Play-by-Play of Orlando Shooting Revealed

ByAARON KATERSKY ABCNews logo
Tuesday, June 28, 2016

The chaos, confusion and horror of what transpired in the deadly assault at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, was further revealed in the moment-by-moment police narrative, made public today pursuant to a public records request from ABC News and other media outlets.

Today's disclosure includes the police dispatch record, which provides a play-by-play of the June 12 mass shooting, from the first call reporting "shots fired" to the "subject down" notification three hours later.

The first call came at 2:02:54 a.m. for "shots fired." Seconds later, "shots still being fired."

In the next several minutes, police received multiple calls from inside Pulse. One woman reported "she is hiding [in a] closet"; the call taker could "hear shooting in the background."

Another caller was "whispering."

Six minutes after the shooting began, a call taker heard "someone screaming help" and police decided they were "sending a team in."

In the subsequent seconds, the 911 call takers reported "hearing more shots" and callers advising that the gunman was "still shooting."

At 2:08:55 a.m., a caller heard the gun shots getting closer and said, "Someone is screaming. I'm shot." Police had an open line and could hear 20 to 30 gun shots and a female screaming. Then the call taker reported, "My caller is no longer responding, just an open line with moaning."

At 2:51 a.m. a report came in of "shooter saying [possible] explosives in the parking lot" and a victim reporting a bomb "strapped to him."

The police dispatcher said "subject advises that he is a terrorist."

More victims seemed to believe there were explosives and overheard the gunman, Omar Mateen, "saying that he is a terrorist and has several bombs strapped to him in the downstairs female restroom."

Finally, three hours after the shooting began, the police radio crackled with "subject down" at 5:15:53 a.m.

Records released today also include text messages to and from the Orlando police chief, fire chief and fire marshal, along with a history of code enforcement at the nightclub.

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