[Update 12:30 p.m.] Officials have now increased the death total from this morning's Orlando shooting to 50 people, making it the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, and the deadliest attack against the LGBTQ community in U.S. history. Police initially thought around 20 people had been killed. 53 more people have been hospitalized as well.
Chief Mina speaking at press conference pic.twitter.com/BYpMRoEp2d
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
If you are looking for a family member. Please call the city's crisis hotline at 407.246.4357 pic.twitter.com/iJxdD3QAHG
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
"All of the killing that was done was done with a single assault rifle," said Orlando Police Chief John Mina. He also identified the gunman as Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen living in Port St. Lucie who was born in America and whose family is from Afghanistan. Mina added that Mateen used an AR-15 rifle in the attack, the same gun used at Sandy Hook and San Bernadino.
#OrlandoShooting suspect Omar Mir Seddique Mateen shown in 2 sep selfies wearing #NYPD apparel. That's worrying. pic.twitter.com/7lKjT5qbvA
— Lisa & Phoebe Pug (@LisaAlesci) June 12, 2016
Omar Mateen, who killed 50 in #Orlando #nightclub. Police: possible radical Islamic leanings. No claim yet pic.twitter.com/DjX5U3woUE
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) June 12, 2016
Pulse shooting: In hail of gunfire in which suspect was killed, OPD officer was hit. Kevlar helmet saved his life. pic.twitter.com/MAb0jGi7r4
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
NBC's Pete Williams reported Orlando shooter had Florida license to carry concealed - FYI, NRA claims CCW holders are law-abiding citizens
— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) June 12, 2016
After calls from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Gov. Rick Scott has now declared a state of emergency for Florida in the wake of the attack.
JUST IN: Florida gov. declares State of Emergency in aftermath of Orlando mass shooting https://t.co/ZdaJMt338S pic.twitter.com/70yvflfVkd
— ABC News (@ABC) June 12, 2016Mateen's father, Mir Seddique, told NBC News that the incident "has nothing to do with religion," and stemmed instead from an incident a few months ago when his son "saw two men kissing in Miami" and became enraged. He added, "We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. We weren't aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country."
Gunman's father tells NBC News his son got angry a couple months ago when he saw men kissing at Bayside in Miami pic.twitter.com/MSdCYcHuF9
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 12, 2016
WATCH: Father of shooter in Orlando club tells NBC News: “We are apologizing for the whole incident”https://t.co/SJiy3pFAYJ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 12, 2016
The Daily Beast reports that Mateen has previously been investigated for possible terror links:
The senior law enforcement source reports that Mateen became a person of interest in 2013 and again in 2014. The Federal Bureau of Investigation at one point opened an investigation on Mateen but subsequently closed the case when it produced nothing that appeared to warrant further investigation.
“He’s a known quantity,” the source said. “He’s been on the radar before."
The gunman is said by the source to have been born in New York and to have been married for a time to a woman from New Jersey. His father, Seddique Mateen, appears to reside in Florida, but is said to be presently running for office in Afghanistan.
For folks tweeting quotes from the killer's father, it's worth noting that the two are in tension. pic.twitter.com/MJ2FrvPVvu
— Andrew Golis (@agolis) June 12, 2016
There will be a vigil in front of Stonewall Inn on Monday night: "Please join us on Monday, June 13 at 6PM outside of the Stonewall Inn as we remember the lives lost to such senseless violence and stand together against these acts."
Tomorrow we will vigil at the Stonewall Inn for the victims of the #PulseNightclubShooting https://t.co/A6P3cI8A5c
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) June 12, 2016
There have been at least 892 mass shootings in America since Sandy Hook in December 2012.
orlando community lgbtq organizations you can donate to
- https://t.co/FbvmlUYpvT
- https://t.co/kuIQr1FB5T
- https://t.co/Yu2Ac48zeZ …— mean blanca (@christinefriar) June 12, 2016
[Original Story Below] At least 20 people were killed and 42 others were seriously injured when a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida last night. The gunman was fatally shot by police after a standoff, and according to the Times, cops have classified the attack as a “terror incident.”
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said investigators are looking into whether this was an act of domestic or international terror: "This is an incident, as I see it, that we certainly classify as domestic terror incident."
"It's appears he was organized and well-prepared," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said during a press briefing this morning, adding that the shooter had started around 2 a.m. at nightclub Pulse, which describes itself as "the hottest gay bar" in Orlando. An officer who was working at the club engaged in a shootout outside the club, after which the gunman ran inside and started taking hostages.
Last night's Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando is possibly the fifth deadliest mass shooting in American history. pic.twitter.com/JLaBo1bBk7
— The Trace (@teamtrace) June 12, 2016
There were approximately 320 people in the club at that time. "The shooter took hostages and at about 5 a.m. we entered and exchanged gunfire with the suspect and he was dead at the scene," Mina said, adding police used a "controlled explosion" at one point to distract the shooter. "Nine officers were involved and one of our officers was injured. At least 30 people were saved during the rescue."
Orlando Sentinel's @Journo_Christal recounting her interview with a clubgoer: "He broke down crying, and so did I." https://t.co/1mZBHrK0DW
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 12, 2016
Anthony Torres, who was partying inside the club before the shootings started, posted his account of what happened on Facebook: "People where screaming and running, looking for their loved ones along with seeing injured people sitting on the floor .. It was so surreal,” he wrote. "They are just pulling people out in stretchers loading them up.. Omg please god let everyone make it - tonight was supposed to be a fun night!! One more minute and we would of been shot or worse.. Thank god we got to our car in time,” he said.
Gunfire exchanged at #pulse nightclub hostage situation in #Orlando. pic.twitter.com/qeF0s6Ien6
— Nic Hornstein (@nichornstein) June 12, 2016
Around 3 a.m., Pulse Orlando posted on its Facebook page: “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." Just before 6 a.m., the club added an update: "As soon as we have any information we will update everyone. Please keep everyone in your prayers as we work through this tragic event. Thank you for your thoughts and love."
Tweets from the presidential candidates posted 9:21a ET. pic.twitter.com/lvUuQTQtjm
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) June 12, 2016
CBS News reports, "Sources have confirmed to CBS News that authorities are investigating whether the suspect, who has been named as Omar Mateen, had ties to Islamic terrorism. Mateen is a U.S. citizen with no apparent criminal history, according to sources."
What we know so far about Orlando nightclub shooter: https://t.co/gn1hNrHDid pic.twitter.com/t2TorIZybh
— CBSN (@CBSNLive) June 12, 2016
This morning, the White House released a statement, "The President was briefed this morning by Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, on the tragic shooting in Orlando, Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims. The President asked to receive regular updates as the FBI, and other federal officials, work with the Orlando Police to gather more information, and directed that the federal government provide any assistance necessary to pursue the investigation and support the community."

Orlando police officers seen outside of Pulse nightclub after a fatal shooting and hostage situation on June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida (Getty Images)