The incident was deemed a terrorist attack by FBI investigators. He later told a negotiator he was 'out here right now' because of the American-led interventions in Iraq and in Syria and that the negotiator should tell the United States to stop the bombing. killing of Abu Waheeb in Iraq the previous month 'triggered' the shooting. In a 9-1-1 call made shortly after the shooting began, Mateen swore allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and said the U.S. Orlando Police officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff.

On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Perpetrator's wife charged with aiding and abetting the commission of a terrorist act and obstruction of justice Perpetrator's wife found not guilty on both charges