The Orlando gunman’s second wife tried but failed to talk him out of his Sunday assault at a gay nightclub that left 50 people dead, according to a report.
“According to several officials who are familiar with what she has told the FBI, she has said that she drove him at least once to the Pulse nightclub because he wanted to see it in advance, and that she was with him when he bought a holster and some ammunition,” NBC’s Pete Williams reported Tuesday of Noor Zahi Salman. “But that she tried to talk him out of the attack, she tried to dissuade him from it. In other words, that she had some idea of what he was planning and that she tried to talk him out of it.”
NBC NEWS: Orlando gunman's wife told FBI she tried to talk him out of conducting an attack –@PeteWilliamsNBC https://t.co/PTq0ZcPMtn— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 14, 2016
NBC also reported that Salman is staying with Mateen’s father in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is cooperating with FBI officials. Authorities are also considering filing criminal charges against Salman.
Sitora Yusufiy, Mateen’s first wife who divorced him in 2011, has said her ex-husband was physically and verbally abusive to her in their short marriage.
Mateen’s attack on Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday morning was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, 29, died in a shootout with police.
