Father of Reported Suspect in Orlando Mass Shooting Says, 'This Has Nothing to Do with Religion' – Points to Son's Recent Anger at Gay Men
"We're apologizing for the whole incident."
That's what the father of Omar Saddiqui Mateen, the man reportedly identified as the gunman in what is now the deadliest mass shooting in American history, told NBC News this morning.
Mateen's father reportedly said the attack Sunday morning at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, "has nothing to do with religion."
He instead said his son had recently become very upset by the sight of two men kissing in downtown Miami, and pointed to his anger as a possible cause.
"We weren't aware of any action he is taking," Mateen's father said. "We are in shock like the whole country."
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Witnesses have described the shooting scene to PEOPLE, from both inside and around the nightclub, as "crazy" and "awful."
Authorities, who have not named the suspect, have said they do not yet know a motive.
An FBI spokesperson said Sunday morning that this is an ongoing investigation and won't classify it as a terror or hate crime at this time but it is under investigation.
