The NYPD is beefing up security in the city, particularly at LGBT facilities, following the deadliest mass shooting in United States history Sunday morning at a gay club in Orlando, as the public learns more about the alleged shooter.

At least 50 people were killed and 53 are wounded after a gunman opened fire inside an Orlando nightclub early Sunday, according to the local police chief and mayor.

The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Omar Saddiqui Mateen, seen in the photo gallery below, of Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Reports say Mateen was born in New York. His ex-wife told The Washington Post that Mateen's family was from Afghanistan. The family later moved to Florida.

The NYPD said in a statement that it is closely monitoring the investigation, is in contact with the FBI and Florida law enforcement authorities in Florida, and has deployed additional counter terrorism resources throughout New York City, "particularly at LGBTQ facilities to keep all [New Yorkers] safe."

Police said the shooting happened at a well-known gay club, Pulse Orlando, around 2 a.m.

Police Chief John Mina said 50 people were killed, up from an up from the 20 reported earlier.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the shooter is among the dead.

Organizers of the 70th annual Tony Awards announced that victims of the shooting would be honored at Sunday night's award show.

Authorities said an off-duty officer who worked at the club was the first to respond and eventually engaged with the suspect.

Police said the gunman, who was armed with an assault rifle and a handgun, ran back into the club and held the remaining people hostage for what lasted around three hours.

By 5 a.m., police broke down the door with an armored vehicle, letting 30 people inside the club go safely.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who died in the exchange.

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were among many the New York politicial figures who weighed in on the shooting Sunday.

It took authorities hours to find all the victims inside the club, and they said they are still identifying all of the dead and wounded. Law enforcement leaders tell us that, along with notifying their families, could take hours.

In addition to the guns, the shooter also had some sort of "suspicious device," Mina said.

Police had said previously on Twitter that there was a "controlled explosion" at the scene of the shooting. Mina said that noise was caused by a device intended to distract the shooter.

"It was just one after another, after another, after another," said a witness describing the scene when gunshots broke out inside the club.

"It could've lasted a whole song. Because after everybody was out, shootings were still going and the cops were yelling, 'Go, go, clear the area, clear the area!'"

Club-goer Rob Rick said the shooting started just before closing time.

"Everybody was drinking their last sip," he said.

The shooting is the deadliest in the nation's history, eclipsing the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre in which 32 were killed, and the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which 27 died.

Many of the wounded are in critical condition. One officer was injured in the shooting, but not seriously, as his police helmet protected him.

Dozens of police vehicles swarmed the area around the club. At least two police pickup trucks were seen taking what appeared to be shooting victims to the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Officials said the shooting is being investigated as a terror attack and a hate crime.

"I think it's more likely than not that it was an ideologically-motivated attack," Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, (R), said at a press conference.

"Right now, we don't have any direct information that he was associated with any particular group. But it does seem that it's no coincidence that the attack took place where it did."

The FBI had investigated Mateen twice in the past for possible ties to Islamic extremism, but there was not enough evidence to charge him.

The FBI had been at Mateen's Florida home for the better part of Sunday, hoping to understand what lead up to this deadly rampage.

NY1 learned that Mateen had recently purchased two firearms in just the past few days: a hand gun and possibly a high-powered rifle.

Mateen had called 911 at the time of the attack, but the FBI has not confirmed it was to pledge allegiance to ISIS, which is what sources have told the Associated Press.

Mateen's father, Mir Seddique, said he is in shock and that he was not aware of anything his son might have been planning.

"We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident," Seddique said. "We are in shock like the whole country."

Seddique also said the incident has nothing to do with religion.

House Speaker Paul Ryan also reacted on Twitter to news of the shooting.

 

 

Weighing in on the shooting, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Charles Schumer, and City Comptroller Scott Stringer focused on their call for more gun control.

"Once again, this is a terrible reminder of the rampant gun violence we have in this nation," Cuomo said. "I'm glad this state is taking action, because the gun violence is just getting worse and worse and worse."

"It's a terrible tragedy. We don't know the details yet, but one thing we do know: no one should have an AR 15, an assault weapon. That's what was used here and it killed so many people so quickly," Schumer said.

"This is such a terrible national tragedy. Look, I think this country has to make a decision about these guns. The more guns out there, the more tragedies were gonna have," Stringer said. "But this is so terrible, so many innocent lives lost. And every time we decry the violence, and yet it seems to be getting worse."

"We in New York know this pain; we've been through it before. And we know that when something like this happens, the entire community feels it. Every neighborhood, people of every background — we feel it together," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the Muslim Community Network's 6th Annual Gala on Sunday.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Orange County, Florida, the county in which Orlando resides.

Scott and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said their home state and the nation will not give in to terror.

"I hope they see today that they won't terrorize Americans, they won't terrorize Floridians, that we stand for and with all Americans, irrespective of their sexual orientation, irrespective of their party ideology, irrespective of where they live," Rubio said.

"We are all Americans," Rubio continued. "You're seeing the response today, and this will continue. This will make us stronger. They will not win."

"Clearly, this is an act of terrorism," Scott said. "You just can't imagine this happening in any community, can't imagine happening in your state if you're the governor of a state, and you can't imagine this happening in your country."

The White House also issued a statement, sending thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims.

President Obama also said he is dedicating federal resources to help with the ongoing investigation.

If you are concerned about a family member in Orlando, the city's mayor says you can call 407-246-4357 for more information.

The city of Orlando has also started releasing names of victims whose next of kin have been contacted:


Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
 

You can find the list at www.cityoforlando.net/blog/victims

The list is being periodically updated.

Separately, a heavily-armed man was arrested Sunday in Los Angeles after he planned to carry out an attack at the city's gay pride parade, according to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Authorities said the man has been identified as 20-year-old James Wesley Howell of Indiana.

Local police said when they arrested Howell, they found three assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and a five-gallon bucket filled with chemicals that could have been used to make a bomb.

Police officers said they were tipped off by Santa Monica residents who said the man looked suspicious.

Santa Monica's police chief said Howell told officers he wanted to harm the gay pride event in West Hollywood, where hundreds of thousands of people were gathered.

In a news conference, Garcetti said his city stands with the people of Orlando.

"We are Pulse, we are Orlando, we are Americans, we are all LGBTQ community members today," Garcetti said. "We are all part of a country that will not be beaten down, we will not go away, and today we are proud of who we are."

The sheriff's office said there is no immediate threat, and authorities said they have no reason to believe the incident is linked to the events in Orlando.