FBI Agent Ronald Hopper on Orlando shooting: "I would call it a hate crime. I would call it terrorism. It's both." https://t.co/02QJKteAlg
— ABC News (@ABC) June 15, 2016
An FBI official on Wednesday called the Sunday shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., both a hate crime and an act of terror.
“This was an act of violence, born out of hate, that inflicted terror on an entire community,” special agent in charge Ron Hopper told reporters in Florida.
{mosads}”So I would call it a hate crime, I would call it terrorism — it’s both,” he added.
Officials have been grappling with how to characterize the attack early Sunday after a man claiming allegiance to Islamic militants gunned down 49 people and injured dozens more at the Pulse nightclub.
President Obama hours after the shooting on Sunday described it as “an act of terror and hate.” The attack has stoked debate over gun control, counterterrorism efforts and protections for LGBT people.
The FBI said Wednesday that authorities were reconstructing the gunman’s movements going back “months, days, hours and minutes” before the shooting early Sunday morning, including looking at surveillance video.
Hopper said Omar Mateen, the lone gunman who died in a shootout with police, remained the main suspect in the investigation, declining to offer details or any other leads.
Mateen’s wife reportedly feared he was going to attack a gay nightclub overnight on Saturday and pleaded with him not to commit violence but didn’t warn police, according to NBC News.
NBC reported the woman is cooperating with investigators but officials worry she may stop talking once charges are filed.
“We do not know when charges will be finalized,” U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley maintained Wednesday. “We’re not sure what charges would be brought or if charges will be brought.”