More than 50 Pulse survivors and victim families have filed a lawsuit against the shooter's employer, saying the massacre could have been prevented.
- Pulse survivors, families say Omar Mateen's gun license should have been taken
- Survivors speak of attack that left 49 people dead, dozens wounded
- Mateen's former employer G4S calls lawsuit "without merit"
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The families argue that Omar Mateen's employer and wife knew about his mental state and didn't nothing to prevent it.
During a news conference Wednesday at the Aloft Orlando Downtown hotel, victims and families said Mateen's employer, G4S, could have pulled his gun license they acquired for him but didn't.
A Pulse survivor who is now confined to a wheelchair said he wished someone would have stopped Mateen before the June 12, 2016 shooting.
"Instead, I woke up two months later from an induced coma, and I learned I will never walk again," Juan Jose Cufino Rodriguez said.
Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, who is representing the families, said in a news release that because Mateen was mentally unstable and made terrorism-related comments prior to the shooting that left 49 dead and dozens wounded, his employer should have done something.
Wigberto Cintron, brother of vicitim Luis Omar Ocasio, speaking about lawsuit being filed by Pulse survivors and victims against G4S. pic.twitter.com/IFNl8qBO4O
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) March 22, 2017
Ilka Reyes says she was shot 8 times in the back by Omar Mateen. Also lost her pinky finger when she was wounded. #pulselawsuit against G4S. pic.twitter.com/ZZoyaNGSgX
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) March 22, 2017
The FBI reported that Mateen was put on its watch list in 2013 after one of his coworkers said he made comments alleging possible terrorist ties. At the time, he was working as a security guard for a courthouse. Mateen told investigators he made comments about his ties to Islamic extremists because he was angry.
In 2014, Mateen again was interviewed by the FBI over a possible connection to an American suicide bomber, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha.
The FBI conducted interviews with Mateen. Physical surveillance was conducted, and Mateen was introduced to undercover FBI agents during the investigation. Both times, he was investigated, and officials were unable to verify the substance of his comments.
During a 911 call when the shooting at the gay nightclub was taking place, Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State.
Security company G4S maintained that Mateen was an excellent employee; however, plaintiffs argue that Mateen's prior statements about extremism and allegations that his wife, Noor Salman, may have had prior knowledge of the attacks should have been enough for G4S to do something before Pulse.
“The evidence we’ve seen clearly shows there were multiple warning signs before the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting, and we believe those named in this complaint — the employer of Omar Mateen and his wife — could have and should have taken steps to prevent this senseless act of violence,” stated Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, in a news release.
G4S stated to News 13 that it considers the lawsuit "wholly without merit."
"G4S continues to have the deepest sympathy for the victims, friends and families who were affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting," the company explained to News 13 in an email. "(G4S) notes the lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. G4S intends to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit which it considers to be wholly without merit."