29-year-old Omar Mateen entered the history books on Sunday morning last when he stormed the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando, Florida, armed and with intention to kill as many people as possible.
The former security guard opened fire inside the club and slain 50 people, injuring dozens more, thus becoming the perpetrator of the worst mass shooting in US history. He took hostages during a three-hour long standoff. He was eventually gunned down by SWAT members after a tactical team entered the premises.
Medical authorities now fear that the death toll may yet rise, as many of the wounded remain in a critical condition in hospital.
Mateen, who was a US citizen of Afghan descent, is understood to have made a 911 call shortly before the shooting and pledged allegiance to the extremist group ISIS.
It is understood he had been investigated by the FBI on several occassions, but deemed to be a ‘low threat.’