Following the mass shooting in an Orlando LGBT nightclub that left 50 people dead, the New York Police Department issued a statement on how it’s making safety preparations following the worst mass shooting in American history.
“We are in contact with law enforcement authorities in Florida, as well as the FBI, and we are closely monitoring developments in the investigation. Meanwhile the NYPD has placed our Patrol and Counter-terrorism resources, including CRC, SRG and ESU personnel, on alert pending further information,” the NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information said in a statement.
Shooting in Orlando Nightclub Leaves 50 Dead
The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen — who opened fire at the LBGT nightclub Pulse around 2 a.m. on June 12 — seems to have been specifically targeting LGBT people. Speaking to NBC News after the incident, Mateen’s father shared a recollection of his son becoming enraged at the sight of two men kissing in Miami a few months ago. According to CNN, the gunman called 911 during his attack to pledge his allegiance to ISIS. The extremist Islamic organization has made a point of killing gay people in the past.
As June is National Pride Month, Pride parades in major U.S. cities are ongoing. In an incident that is believed to be unrelated, Santa Monica police stopped a man driving with an assault rifle and ammunition who reportedly said he was in L.A. for the Pride festival in West Hollywood, which runs June 10-13. Billboard reached out to Santa Monica police for further details.
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