-The gunman was a 45-year-old former employee of Fiamma, Inc., which makes RV accessories. He's not yet been named.
-There are no known ties to terrorist groups, but he did have a minor criminal record that included possession of marijuana and DUI.
-The shooter was armed with a handgun and a knife, though officials believe he did not use the latter.
-He was involved with a prior incidence of workplace violence in 2014.
The incident is the second mass shooting to take place in Orlando in just under a year. On June 12, 2016, a gunman shot and killed nearly 50 people at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub. The city is gearing up to observe the anniversary of the Pulse shooting, which happened to take place during LGBT Pride Month.
"Over the past year, the Orlando community has been challenged like never before," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement, CNN posted Monday.
It didn't take long for Monday's shooting to spark debate about gun rights.
Critics of the ease with which people can buy guns in states like Florida, where groups like the NRA have extensive power over the state legislature, said the frequency of shootings like Monday's should contribute to the normalization of gun violence in American culture.
“Once again, an act of senseless gun violence shattered lives in Orlando, FL. As a country, we cannot allow ourselves to become apathetic to these horrific acts of violence," said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was a victim of a 2011 mass shooting in her former Arizona Congressional district and spearheaded the group Americans for Responsible Solutions in the event's wake. "This is not normal. My heart goes out to the families of those who were taken today. I also want to extend my gratitude to the first responders who helped bring this terrible ordeal to an end. This tragedy will test Orlando’s resolve. But once again, Orlando’s spirit will not be broken.”
Michelle Gajda, a volunteer spokeswoman for the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said Orlando residents shouldn't have to live in fear of going to work or going to a nightclub on the wrong day.
“My heart goes out to the families of those affected by this tragic shooting, as well as the Orlando community," she said. "The one-year mark of the Pulse Nightclub shooting is just days away – and now once again, the eyes of the nation are on Orlando as we grapple with terrible gun violence. We should all be able to go to work, dance in a nightclub or enjoy a night out at the movies without the threat of gun violence looming over our heads. We must demand more of our lawmakers and work together to find common sense solutions that will protect all communities in our state and across the nation. We deserve better.”
This article appears in Jun 1-8, 2017.