(all images & comments in this blog were given by the people without coercion,inducements or harassment. They came forward wishing to be placed on public record)
1.20am Orlando Florida hears brief volleys of shots. Neighbours are woken but assumed it was a drug deal gone wrong. Shortly a wail of sirens shattered the warm humid night. it was soon apparent that problems were occurring downtown.
Soon it was narrowed down to The Pinch nightclub well known as a gay gathering spot.
The next four hours will be the subject of ongoing debate and investigations as to what response was needed and indeed what actions were taken. My sister and i have heard phone recorded gunshots about 20 in number much later then the 1.20am start of the event.
One person who was in the club told us "We were having a great celebration and party (its Gay Month) when I heard like fireworks or noises like balloons popping,but then people began screaming and falling to the floor. It wouldn't stop and I still hear the noise and screams. I ran out the back door and just ran. Its only now that I cant find my friend i don't know if he made it. Everyone was just celebrating and having a great time......" he then broke down and was comforted by a friend, but was so pleased he got to relate the events.
The Killer Omar Mateen a 29yr old from Fort Pierce a community south of Orlando has been linked to a ISIS hate crime. he was at The Pinch from approx 12 midnight and took the time to send out a selfie.he came equipped to do the crime as he had both an automatic rifle now identified as a AR15 and a handgun with "ädequate"ammunition. The story over the time from 1.20pm until the final hail of gun fire at approx 5am when the killer was shot dead by 12 police swat team members. It would appear that the rifle used was something like a 308 as we have seen the helmet worn by one of the swat team hit by the gunman (he survived) a splattering of lead appeared around an indentation and small hole right next to the Officers temple- a lucky escape for him.
Carlos Rosario another survivor related how he made his way to the rear door and upon reaching it "I felt a warm hand on my neck and looked around to see a male covered in blood holding his shattered leg. I took after my shirt and held pressure until medical help arrived"
Due to the long time factor it appears (as shown on live TV) that many victims were placed in OPD (Orlando Police Department) Ute's and driven from South Orange Ave to a nearby hospital with 53 admitted 9 died at hospital.
It now appears he had a shoot out with the Police Officer at the door but as Police believed he may have had a bomb a 3hr stand off occur ed and sometime he managed to kill 39 inside.
The scene has been marred by the "do gooders"hijacking the event.They (anti gun lobby and
Gay community) are blaming any person with a right leaning or a gun owner. That's a real shame and distracts from this ISIS hate crime. Even Mateen's father apologised and said he believes his son was incensed by seeing two gay men kiss while he was out with his son about 3 months ago. He (Mateen) had also being investigated by the FBI in 2013 & 2014 for ISIS comments and association but cleared both times.
OPD have confirmed about 15-20 people were in a room with hostages and others 20+ in a rear room that OPD breached by a Bear Cat (like a Bob Cat with armour) allowing those people out. Omar Mateen then moved out into South Orange Ave where Swat team members took him out.
News services will have a 24/7 coverage and new facts emerge as I write this so it may not be fully accurate but it is reflective of a "live"account.