ORLANDO, Fla. – The FBI chief said in a news conference on Monday that the Orlando nightclub gunman spoke with 911 multiple times and told the operator he pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.
The chief said 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen had "strong indications of radicalization" and "potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations."
Minutes earlier, President Barack Obama says there's no clear evidence Mateen was directed to conduct his attack or part of a larger plot and that it appears the shooter was inspired by extremist information disseminated over the internet.
Obama says the investigation is at the preliminary stages and is being treated as a terrorism investigation. He says the attack appears to be similar to last year's shooting spree in San Bernardino, California.
[VIDEO: FBI investigation | Families of victims cope | Families await answers | Vigils held |Shooter's background | Ex-wife says gunman was troubled | Sound of gunfire shows intense battle]
The president says investigators are still looking into the motivations of the shooter, including the fact that the shooting took place at Pulse, a gay nightclub just south of downtown Orlando.
Obama spoke in the Oval Office after being briefed on the investigation by FBI Director James Comey, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and other officials.
The FBI said earlier Monday that 49 victims were killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and that the gunman, who was the 50th, is not being counted in the death toll.
Governor asks for federal disaster declaration
Gov. Rick Scott has asked Obama for a federal disaster declaration after the shooting, in which 50 people died and 53 others were injured, some critically, early Sunday morning.
“Yesterday’s terror attack was an attack on our state and entire nation," Scott said in a release. "This morning, I have asked President Obama to declare an emergency so that the full resources of the federal government can be made available for all those impacted by this horrific massacre."
The FBI clarified that there was 49 shooting victims and the 50th deceased was the shooter, who is not counted in the toll. The bodies have all been removed from the nightclub and 48 of the 49 victims have been identified, according to police.
More details released in mass shooting
Police said Mateen, of Fort Pierce, opened fire early Sunday morning at Pulse nightclub in Orlando making it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
Mateen called 911, acting "cool and calm," from the bathroom with hostages during the attack to pledge his allegiance to ISIS and he mentioned the Boston bombers, according to the FBI. ATF says two weapons were found Mateen's body and a third weapon was found in his vehicle.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at the Monday news conference that Mateen barricaded himself in the bathroom with hostages.
"We did set up for an explosive breach on the bathroom wall, where we knew there were approximately 15 people in the opposing bathroom to where the suspect was with his hostages," Mina said. "We were able to rescue dozens and dozens of people that came out of that hole. The suspect came out of that hole himself armed with a handgun and a long gun and engaged in a gun battle with officers where he was ultimately killed."
Police said they couldn't determine if it was a suicide mission based on conversations officers had with Mateen.
OPD debunks rumors of multiple shooters
Orlando police tweeted Monday that the rumors of multiple shooters are unfounded.
Alert: Rumors of multiple shooters are unfounded. The one shooter, Omar Mateen, is dead #OrlandoUnited
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 13, 2016
"We don't know if anyone else will be charged in connection with this crime," U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said, adding that there was "no reason to believe that anyone connected to this crime" was placing the public in imminent danger.
"If anyone else was involved in this crime, they will be prosecuted," he said.
Many families are expected to be out at the Beardall Senior Center near the mass shooting scene as they await word on their loved ones who remain unaccounted.
The number for families to call for information on their loved ones is 407-246-4357.
Check back for more on this story.
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