Regulars at Pulse nightclub say shooter visited at least a dozen times before attack

A regular at Pulse nightclub says he saw the man who killed 49 people there early Sunday at least a dozen times before the mass shooting.

Ty Smith told the Orlando Sentinel that "sometimes" Omar Mateen would "go over in a corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent." Smith said he didn't really talk with Mateen, but remembers "him saying things about his dad at times. He told us he had a wife and child."

The Sentinel spoke with four regulars at the gay nightclub who said they believe they saw Mateen at Pulse during visits before Sunday's massacre. Mateen lived in Fort Pierce, about 120 miles south of Orlando, with his wife and young son. Orlando Police Chief John Mina said he has no information on Mateen ever visiting the club.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up