Survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting are suing the city and police for not protecting them enough
Omar Mateen opened fire at the Florida gay club killing 49 people and injured 35
By Steve Brown
Survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre are suing the city and police for not doing enough to protect them.
Two years after Omar Mateen opened fire at the Florida gay club, killing 49 people and injured 53, more than 35 victims have signed on as plaintiffs accusing the police of violating the Constitutional rights of those injured in the attack, the Daily Mail reported.
Mateen had pledged allegiance to ISIS during the three-hour standoff before he was finally killed in a shootout with police.
Now, plaintiffs contend that officers should have aggressively confront Mateen to prevent the mass causalities.
The lawsuit names Orlando Police Department Officer Adam Gruler – who worked an extra-duty shift covering the nightclub that evening.
Reports claim he “abandoned his post” which allowed Mateen to walk in the club, leave to collect weapons and then return.
Gruler fired at Mateen from two spots outside the club after the shooting began – which has been estimated at around 200 rounds in less than five minutes.
Gruler was hailed a hero and honoured by the city and invited to Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.
However, survivors say they “deserved” to be rescued “sooner by law enforcement”.
Keinon Carter said during the news conference: “I believe victims of the Pulse shooting deserve better. We deserved better.
“We deserved to be rescued sooner by law enforcement.”
The lawsuit also says the survivors weren’t allowed to use their phones once police had secured the club.
It reads: “The detainees were not permitted to use their phones, contact their loved ones, or leave.
“They were detained as though they were criminals, by these defendants despite there being not a shred of evidence nor any lawful basis to suspect that any of the detainees had committed a crime,’ attorneys wrote in the court document.
The suit calls for additional training and resources, a jury trial and an undetermined monetary judgment.