FL Gun Dealer Where Alleged Orlando Shooter Purchased Weapons Identified

Law enforcement personnel gather at a Fort Pierce, Fla. residence related to the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, Sunday, June 12, 2016. Mateen is named as the gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun who ope... Law enforcement personnel gather at a Fort Pierce, Fla. residence related to the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, Sunday, June 12, 2016. Mateen is named as the gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun who opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub early Sunday, before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. It was the worst mass shooting in American history. (/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The man allegedly behind the largest mass shooting in American history purchased his weapons from a gun dealer and shooting range whose owner has in the past posted anti-Muslim and anti-President Obama comments on Facebook, the New York Daily News reported.

ATF Agent Sal van Susteren confirmed to the New York Daily News that accused Orlando shooter Omar Mateen purchased the weapons he used in the weekend’s massacre at St. Lucie Shooting Center, not far from Mateen’s apartment in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The New York Daily News reported that the store’s owner, Ed Henson, an ex-NYPD officer, had posted on Facebook in December a meme that said, “F— Islam, F— Allah. F— Muhammad. F— the Koran. F— people who support terrorism,” as well as a comment in November calling for Obama to be “handcuffed, removed from Office and charged with Treason and then publicly executed!”

“How can the American People and military stand by and do nothing while this piece of sh– puts everyone of us in danger,” the post said.

Henson has spoken to the press in the past in favor of expanded gun rights.

A man answering the phone at St. Lucie Shooting Center on Sunday would not comment to TPM when asked if Mateen’s weapons were purchased there, except to say that “our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. The New York Daily News reported that the store’s owner, Ed Henson, an ex-NYPD officer, had posted on Facebook in December a meme that said, "F— Islam, F— Allah. F— Muhammad. F— the Koran. F— people who support terrorism,” as well as a comment in November calling for Obama to be “handcuffed, removed from Office and charged with Treason and then publicly executed!”

    "How can the American People and military stand by and do nothing while this piece of sh-- puts everyone of us in danger,” the post said.

    Gee, that’s kind of ironic, actually. But it was nice of them to say their thoughts and prayers were with the victims, who will be glad to hear that I’m sure. The ones who remain alive, anyway.

    BTW is this the same store that refused to sell Mateen the military-grade body armor he wanted? I wonder why? Got a whiff of something not quite right? Many questions to ask here.

  2. "“How can the American People and military stand by and do nothing while this piece of sh-- puts everyone of us in danger,”

    Says the guy who sold guns to someone on the terror watch list who committed the biggest mass shooting in US history.

  3. The blood of 50+ souls is on your hands Ed Henson. Here is hoping your rot in hell for what you have done.

  4. Avatar for jsfox jsfox says:

    "How can the American People and military stand by and do nothing while this piece of sh-- puts everyone of us in danger,” the post said.

    So since you are now as responsible as anyone for this shooting can we the people not stand by and allow you to do it again?

  5. “Their thoughts and prayers are with the victims…”

    Also a large quantity of their ammunition…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

56 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for estamm Avatar for ajaykalra Avatar for feathered_head Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for pokeyoakey Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clemmers Avatar for chammy Avatar for commenterperson Avatar for mrboots Avatar for yskov Avatar for arrendis Avatar for ignoreland Avatar for musgrove Avatar for pbolo Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for mainemomma Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for jimbo92107 Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for woland66

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: