Libertarian nominee: We must not ‘politicize’ Orlando shooting

Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson on Sunday said people shouldn’t politicize the Orlando, Fla., nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and 53 injured.

“Thoughts are with the #Orlando victims & a community who has been attacked,” Johnson tweeted on Sunday. 

“It’s a time to mourn, be strong & be what makes America great.”

Thoughts are with the #Orlando victims & a community who has been attacked. It’s a time to mourn, be strong & be what makes America great.

— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) June 12, 2016

{mosads}Johnson urged people to let the authorities continue their investigations and to extend their condolences to the victims of the attack.

“In this immediate aftermath of what is clearly a tragic and despicable attack, our thoughts must be with the victims,” Johnson said in a statement to The Washington Post.

“Regardless of what the motivation is ultimately found to be, this violence against innocent people simply going about their lives is both cowardly and infuriating. We must allow the authorities to do their jobs, understand how this attack came about, and then respond accordingly. It is not a time to either politicize or jump to conclusions.”

The shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub, early Sunday morning is considered the deadliest mass-shooting incident in the U.S. history. 

The suspect, Omar Mateen, was killed in a shootout with police in the club. He had been interviewed by the FBI three times, in 2013 and 2014, for possible ties to terrorism. 

The suspect had called 911, and his remarks had general connections to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the FBI confirmed. ISIS is taking credit for the attack online.