Orlando shooter Omar Mateen had bought jewellery worth nearly USD 9,000 less than a week before he killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub, the worst mass shooting in modern US history.
Mateen made the expensive purchases on June 6 at a Kay Jewelers in Jensen Beach, Florida, which is near the Lotus Gun Shop where he attempted to buy body armor, ABC News reported.
Six days later, 29-year-old Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Mateen – born in the US to Afghan parents – had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group during the attack. He was killed during a police raid.
Signet, which owns Kay Jewelers, did not confirm the purchase by Mateen, but issued a statement saying that they are “working closely with the authorities.”
“Signet was shocked and deeply saddened by the violent acts against the LGBT community. We join all Americans in mourning and are working closely with the authorities. We will do everything possible to support them,” Signet vice president David A Bouffard said in the statement.
