In a broadcast statement made at around 2:00 p.m. Reactions United States įlorida governor Rick Scott described the incident as 'clearly an act of terror', and declared a state of emergency. Pulse posted on its Facebook page at 2:09 EDT, saying 'Everyone get out of pulse and keep running'. Mateen then left the club briefly and exchanged gunfire with a police officer outside, before returning inside to take hostages. He was armed with a rifle, a handgun, and a 'device'. EDT, Mateen fired shots inside the nightclub.
According to law enforcement officials, at an unknown time before the shooting, Mateen called the police and pledged himself to the leader of ISIS.
