A former classmate of Orlando mass shooting suspect Omar Mateen has confirmed to American media outlets that Mateen was gay and ‘used gay dating sites’.
The former classmate, who concealed his identity, narrated that Mateen and his classmates would hang out at gay nightclubs after classes at the Indian River Community College Police Academy. He even told the press that Mateen ‘asked him out romantically’. However, Mateen and the former buddy were ‘not out’ and he disguised his sexuality to many people.
“We went to a few gay bars with him, and I was not out at the time, so I declined his offer,” the former classmate told AJC.com.
In reports by The Telegraph and Washington Post, another classmate said that Mateen was frequently using West on Jack’d, a dating site for gays.
“He was open with his picture on the sites, he was easy to recognize,” said 23-year-old Cord Cedeno, who also elucidated that he was also contacted by Mateen last year in the dating app.
Kevin West, a regular at the Pulse gay nightclub, admitted that Mateen messaged him ‘on and off for a year’ on the same dating app.
“I remember details,” said 37-year-old West to Washington Post. “I never forget a face.”
However, Mateen’s father Seddique told local news site The Post on Monday that his son was not gay.
According to reports, Mateen was also a regular customer at the nightclub, where the heinous massacre took place in the wee hours of Sunday, killing 49 and injuring 53 others, marking the bloodiest and most atrocious shooting rampage in US history.
“It’s the same guy,” Chris Callen, a Pulse customer, told Canadian Press. “He’s been going to this bar for at least three years.” Gianna Francesca Catolico