Mateen also pointed out staying up all night time to do on line research into anti-psychosis remedy, the acquaintance stated in a interview. The acquaintance asked anonymity, announcing government hadasked him to hold quiet.
The 29-12 months–antique gunman, who killed 49 human beings and wounded 53 in the deadliest massshooting in current U.S. records, referred to as himself an “Islamic soldier” and pledged allegiance to the Islamic state militant institution earlier than being fatally shot through police after a three-hour siege.
The FBI might not comment on the acquaintance’s remarks, however numerous senior U.S. assetsadvised Reuters the research changed into transferring extra closer to the perception that Mateen’sreasons were personal instead of political.
“It looks more and more like this could were the act of a seriously afflicted person whose personalproblems dwarfed any final-minute proposal from radical organizations,” said a senior U.S. legitacquainted with the investigation, speakme on circumstance of anonymity.
government agree with Mateen, a U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, become self-radicalized and acted on my own inside the rampage. He seems to have been a stricken youth, disciplined dozens of instances incollege and had his aspirations to end up a policeman dashed when he become expelled from the academy.
The acquaintance, a resident at the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where Mateen worked as a gatesecurity defend, stated he noticed signs of deteriorating conduct a few weeks before the bloodbath.
He had handed the gate for three years, assembly Mateen numerous times a week and changingpleasant small communicate. approximately 3 weeks earlier than the assault, he noticed Mateenappeared agitated and requested him if he turned into all right.
Mateen stated he changed into wiped out from staying up all night to analyze psychiatric remedy, despite the fact that he did no longer say he became taking unique drugs.
“He’d been actual concerned approximately whether or not he’d slipped into psychosis,” the acquaintancestated. “He wasn’t as pleasant. He was enthusiastic about getting to know medicine on line.”
The acquaintance stated he thought it was ordinary that Mateen would confide to him his concernsapproximately his mental fitness, because they were now not very near and he did now not recognizeanything approximately Mateen’s private existence, inclusive of whether he was married or had kids.
“The ultimate month, he seemed involved, he looked disappointed, he looked confused,” the acquaintance said. “He didn’t seem himself.”
in the early morning, about 18 hours earlier than the June 12 attack, the acquaintance said he drove up tothe gate but Mateen became now not there to open it as usual.
In a couple of minutes, he regarded, silent and with a completely converted look – a shaved head and face, without his common short whiskers and glasses.
while requested if he become good enough, the typically well mannered Mateen responded: “What’s it to you, besides?”
