WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.080 We have an active shooter. We have an after shoots go ahead of me 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:11.919 quar with a mass casualty. Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that covers 3 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:17.199 the whys, the hows, and the aftermath of active shooter and mass casualty 4 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:26.359 events. They have an active shooter in a building at teching call as a 5 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:33.600 our big attacks. We got Josh fires four fifteen asl Brouge ninety one, 6 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:50.479 so I'm like, oh, I'm at a fire. Active shooter coorts of 7 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:57.280 an active shooter, active shooter, active shooter in mash casualty incidents. Thank 8 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:03.719 you for listening. You are listening to Active Shooter, a podcast that may 9 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:08.079 contain adult themes, explicit language, and graphic depictions of violence. Portions of 10 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:14.599 this show may be traumatic for those under eighteen. Listener discretion is advised. 11 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:22.120 Welcome back to Active Shooter podcast. Part two of our coverage of the Pulse 12 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:26.719 night club shooting will continue with a tribute to the forty nine shooting victims and 13 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:33.719 a review of the shooter's background. Thank you for listening. Achira Murray was 14 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:38.359 the youngest of the shooting victims. The eighteen year old recently graduated with honors 15 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:44.200 from West Catholic Prep and had signed a letter of intent to play basketball at 16 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:52.040 Mercyhurst College. Nineteen year old Jason Benjamin Josephatt was born in Haiti before emigrating 17 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:57.640 to the United States. An aspiring photographer, Jason also studied nursing at Valencia 18 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:05.400 Community College. Twenty year old Louis omar Ocazio Cappo graduated from Laverne High School 19 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:09.759 in Tennessee in twenty fifteen and was described by others as a compassionate friend, 20 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:17.759 one who would listen but also gave sound advice. Alejandro Barrios Martinez wore a 21 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:23.000 perpetual smile and was simply a happy person. The twenty one year old was 22 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:28.360 only living in Florida for about a year before the shooting, having emigrated from 23 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:35.599 Cuba. Cory James Connell was a twenty one year old with big dreams of 24 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:39.960 becoming a firefighter. The basketball and football player was described by others as reliable 25 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:46.360 and was always a shoulder to lean on. Twenty two year old Juan Romano 26 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:52.199 Guerrero was working as a telemarketer while attending classes at the University of Central Florida. 27 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:59.159 Peter O Gonzales Cruz was an enthusiastic ups employee who thrived off making others 28 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:02.560 laugh, especially when he would switch on one of the various accents he perfected 29 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:09.039 mimicking. Twenty two year old Louis s Vilma was an employee of Universal Studios 30 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:13.280 at the time of the shooting. He worked on one of the park's many 31 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:16.039 Harry Potter rides, and if you saw him there, he probably made an 32 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:22.840 impression. Always inclusive and exuding positivity are just a few of the ways his 33 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:30.240 loved ones described Lewis. Twenty three year old Stanley Almodovar was a kind hearted 34 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.879 person with an exceptional sense of humour who was known to keep others in stitches. 35 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.520 He was working as a pharmacy technician at a Vella Specialty pharmacy at the 36 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:45.960 time of the shooting. Jonathan Antonio Kamui Vega was a diligent twenty four year 37 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.439 old who was employed in audience management for Telemundo's popular show Lavos Kids, which 38 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:55.599 is a show not unlike the American show The Voice You'll Marry. Rodriguez Sullivan 39 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.400 was a married, twenty four year old mother of two precious boys who were 40 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:05.319 her world. She was described by loved ones as devoted and thoughtful. Christopher 41 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:11.039 Joseph san Felise was devoted to his family and would do anything for them. 42 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.000 The twenty four year old was a graduate of Tampa's Gay the High School before 43 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.839 becoming employed with J. P. Morgan Chase, which is where he worked 44 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:25.279 at the time of the shooting. Heraldo a Ortiz Jimenez was from Carolina, 45 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:29.279 Puerto Rico, and only happened to be in Orlando to attend a concert by 46 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:32.600 his very favorite artist of all time, Selina Gomez. The twenty five year 47 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:41.720 old was described as solicitous and genuine. Twenty five year old Leroy Valentine Fernandez 48 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.879 was employed as a leasing agent, but his true passion was performing on stage, 49 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:49.560 particularly as a singer, which he often did at local restaurants and bars. 50 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:56.800 Twenty five year old Gilbert Ramon Silva Menendez was a cheerful person with a 51 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:00.040 deep well of compassion for others, so much so that he had intended to 52 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:06.639 return to school in September to become a nurse. Amanda Alvear, a former 53 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:11.360 prom queen, was in school studying to become a nurse. The twenty five 54 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:15.279 year old worked at a pharmacy and was recently promoted to lead pharmacy technician when 55 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:21.800 the shooting occurred. Anthony Luis Loriano Dizla was described as quote lovely, kind 56 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:29.319 and respectful, A fantastic dancer. A fantastic dancer. Anthony specially loved the 57 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:33.120 tango, mambo, salsa, and ballroom dancing, which the twenty five year 58 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:40.079 old did any chance he got. Enrique el Rios Junior was from New York 59 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:43.519 City, but he was in Orlando to celebrate a friend's birthday. The trip 60 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.639 doubled as a vacation of sorts for the fun, loving, lively. Twenty 61 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.600 five year old Juan Cevez Martinez, a twenty five year old native of Heldalgo, 62 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:56.800 Mexico, was living in Florida for approximately a year before the shooting. 63 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:00.639 He aspired to become a hairstylist. It was his passion. Juan was beloved 64 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:03.680 to all. He went out of his way to help others any time the 65 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:10.319 nit a rose. Twenty five year old Tevin Eugene Crosby was a twenty ten 66 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:14.199 graduate of West Aridel High School. He was living in Michigan, but the 67 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:20.000 business owner was in Orlando visiting when the shooting happened. Oscar A Arasina Montero 68 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:26.040 was a welcoming person who got along with anyone and everyone. The twenty six 69 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:29.279 year old had just returned from a vacation in New York the day before the 70 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:35.319 shooting. Twenty six year old Mercedes Mareso Flores studied literature at Valencia College and 71 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:39.319 was an ardent music lover. She was at the night club with her best 72 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:44.920 friend Amanda Alvar the knight of the shooting that stole them both from the world. 73 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:49.720 Twenty seven year old Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez was born in Baiamone, 74 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:55.319 Puerto Rico, but had been living in Orlando for an unknown period. Jean 75 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.120 had proudly just purchased his first home and was teaching a sixteen year old sister 76 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:02.680 how to drive, such important life moments that he will never get to enjoy. 77 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:08.319 Frank Hernandez was a twenty seven year old who had been living in Orlando 78 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.319 for about three years. Leading up to the shooting. He worked at a 79 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:16.000 local Calvin Cline store. Angel L. Candelario Padro was born in Puerto Rico 80 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:20.680 and moved to Chicago to attend uptometry school. At the time of the shooting, 81 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:25.120 Angel was just about to join the Florida Retina Institute in Lake Mary, 82 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:29.519 Florida as an ophthalmic technician. The twenty eight year old was also a Zumba 83 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:34.279 instructor. Antonio Devon Brown was a native of Coco Beach, Florida, and 84 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:39.800 graduated in two thousand eight from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University also known as 85 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:44.120 Florida A and M, where he majored in criminal justice. The twenty nine 86 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:46.480 year old was known to be uplifting and he had a wonderful sense of humor. 87 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:53.759 Twenty nine year old Darrel roman Bert the Second was an outgoing and friendly 88 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.920 person who worked assiduously as a member of a young professionals group called the Jacksonville 89 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:03.759 j CS. Thirty year old Eddie Demaldroy Justice was employed as an accountant and 90 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.839 was living in downtown Orlando. Eddie was a master with accessories, often incorporating 91 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:13.839 pieces of flashy jewelry. Thirty year old Miguel Angel Honoreedo was a married father 92 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:18.199 with three boys, ages fifteen, two and one. The manager of his 93 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.040 family's restaurant, Miguel worked very hard so he could take care of his family, 94 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:28.800 but also spend valuable time with his loved ones. Gerald Arthur Wright worked 95 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.759 at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and as you can imagine, 96 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.399 he loved his job. He went overboard to make others laugh, which he 97 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:41.480 always did. Gerald played hard, but he worked even harder. Simon Adrian 98 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:45.759 Carrio Fernandez was thirty one years old at the time of the shooting. He 99 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:48.759 was a watch enthusiast and enjoyed music and cars. Simon was a store manager 100 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.039 for a local McDonald's, a position he earned by his willingness to step in 101 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:58.639 and get the job done, helping others along the way. Thirty two year 102 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.399 old Deanca Deirdre Drayton was known as a true friend you could count on, 103 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:05.519 and she had a personality that drew others in. She had recently fallen on 104 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:09.559 hard times, but Dion could put in the work and was getting her life 105 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:16.200 back on track before the shooting. Christopher Andrew Lenonen, known to his friends 106 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.960 as Drew, was a thirty two year old who attended Seminole High School and 107 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:24.240 grew into a man who thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and talking about movies. 108 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:31.519 Thirty two year old Joel Rayon Paniagua grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, but 109 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.360 had moved to Florida a year earlier to work construction. Known as a loyal 110 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:39.960 person, Joel was devoted to his church. Thirty three year old Ridolpho Ayala 111 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:45.559 Ayala was a biologic's assistant at One Blood, which was a local blood bank. 112 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:48.399 Known for his unique style, which included bow ties. Ridolpho was a 113 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:54.919 prankster and he had a larger than life personality. Jane Evan Tomlinson, a 114 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:58.759 thirty three year old singer with a local cover band called Frequency Band, was 115 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.799 an effervescent person who only knew how to live life to the fullest. Jing 116 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:07.919 graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication with a 117 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:16.519 minor in business administration. Martin Benitez Torres moved to Florida not long before the 118 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:18.759 shooting. The thirty three year old, who was described as a genuine friend, 119 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:26.519 was studying marketing at Sistema Universitario. Anna G. Mendez thirty four year 120 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:31.120 old Edward Sodemeyer Junior, was affectionately called top Hat Eddie because he always wore 121 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:35.200 a black top hat to local events. A bright light in the world, 122 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:41.679 Eddie would do anything for someone in need. Thirty five year old Xavier Emmanuel 123 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.120 Serrano Rosado was a proud father to a five year old son whom he adored. 124 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:52.720 Xavier was a professional dancer specializing in the salsa. Jean Carlos Mendez Perez 125 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:56.840 was a thirty five year old man who was never down. How could he 126 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.000 be when he spent most of his time finding new ways to make people laugh. 127 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:03.320 The fitness enthusiast was born in Puerto Rico, although he had been living 128 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:09.759 in Florida for an undisclosed amount of time. Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera was a 129 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:13.360 newly wed at thirty six and had been living in Wedded Bliss with his husband 130 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:18.279 for nearly a year before the shooting. Described as a quote goofball with a 131 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:24.039 brilliant artistic side. Juan pi Rivera Velasquez was a thirty seven year old native 132 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.120 of Puerto Rico who was the owner of a hair salon in Kissing Me when 133 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:33.720 the shooting happened. Paulse nightclub bouncer Kimberly Morris was thirty seven years old at 134 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:37.639 the time of the shooting. Kimberly was a former basketball player at Post University 135 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:43.320 in Connecticut. Thirty seven year old Louis Daniel Wilson was born in Puerto Rico 136 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:46.840 and eventually landed in Florida. The manager of a local shoe store, Lewis 137 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:52.960 was extremely enthusiastic about dance. Lewis Daniel Condy was a thirty nine year old, 138 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.679 welcoming and attentive person who knew how to put others at ease. He 139 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:00.639 was at the club on the night of the shooting, dancing an having fun 140 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:05.919 with his husband and partner of thirteen years. Forty year old Javier Jree Reyes 141 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.080 was originally from Puerto Rico. Known as a comedian, Javier was incredibly talented 142 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:18.000 in the arts, with a special flare for makeup. Paul Terrell Henry an 143 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.799 outgoing and fun loving dad to one son. He was said to be nurturing 144 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:28.320 and compassionate, but mostly he was a phenomenal dad. Brenda Lee Marquez McCool 145 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.679 was a forty nine year old mother of eleven kids. She was known as 146 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:35.120 the cool mom, which is simply no small feet with that many children. 147 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:37.600 She made it work with an open mind and she was amazing at it. 148 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:43.679 Tragically, Brenda was already involved in a life or death battle with leukemia when 149 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.480 she was shot. Fifty year old Frankie Jimmy Deheesius Velasquez was the eldest of 150 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:54.360 the forty nine shooting victims. Jimmy was a professional dancer and he had traveled 151 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.279 the world dancing from one end of the earth to the other. A sociable 152 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:05.879 man, he was happiest with others, dancing and laughing. Just to recap, 153 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:09.919 there were forty nine shooting victims, more than half of whom were under 154 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:16.039 thirty. These innocent people were in what they believed was a safe space, 155 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:22.360 doing the things they loved the most, spending time with friends and loved ones, 156 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:28.720 socializing, but mainly they were expressing themselves through dance. Best friends died 157 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:37.080 unnecessarily that day. Lovers and spouses were ruthlessly murdered that day. Forty nine 158 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:43.559 people who were celebrating their uniqueness and love were targeted and died that day. 159 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:50.039 They were mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, confidants, and 160 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:56.799 so much more than what this shooter tried to reduce them to. The sheer 161 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:16.159 loss of life is a soul crushing as it is infuriating. Nate was born 162 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:20.480 on November sixteenth, nineteen eighty six at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in 163 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:24.399 New Hyde Park, New York. He immigrated to the States from Afghanistan in 164 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:30.200 the eighties. Nate's father became a naturalized US citizen on November seventeenth, nineteen 165 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:33.799 eighty nine, which was many years after his father met his mother and the 166 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:37.080 pair married. The couple settled in New York and proceeded to start a family. 167 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.799 They had four kids, including three girls and Nate. In nineteen ninety 168 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:46.480 one, the family moved to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, where Nate was 169 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:52.039 promptly enrolled in a program called English for Speakers of other languages. Nate's father 170 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:58.360 was a financial broker whose savvy investment decisions afforded the family a rather posh lifestyle 171 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:03.559 with exquisite furniture and high priced silk rugs. His mother was a wallflower, 172 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:07.840 preferring to stay in the background as a homemaker who doted on her little family. 173 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.159 Nate was very pampered and spoiled, and the role models he looked up 174 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:18.480 to had their male privilege on display at all times. Nate's father had become 175 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:22.279 involved in politics, even hosting a political commentary show and he rather enjoyed making 176 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:26.200 a display of the power he had. Power he wasn't afraid to wield over 177 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:31.000 his wife if he ever felt she stepped out of line. In December of 178 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.840 two thousand two, Nate's dad called the police on his wife, reporting that 179 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.480 she pulled his hair and pinched his bicep all while cursing him out. He 180 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:43.039 alleged that the bite on his bicep left a red mark, and he wanted 181 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:48.240 her arrested and prosecuted. Nate's mom was arrested for domestic battery, However, 182 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:54.159 the local prosecutor declined to charge the case. Between January two thousand five, 183 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:58.039 in June twenty sixteen, Nate's dad was a secret informant for the FBI. 184 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:03.039 He sporadically did informant work over the years, though the reason he was an 185 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:07.320 informant and how he even came to be involved with the FBI is unknown. 186 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:14.200 He founded a nonprofit organization in twenty ten based in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, 187 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:18.440 and while he appeared outwardly to be philanthropic, he most assuredly exhibited problematic 188 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:25.320 behavior, which seems to have trickled down to his son, Nate. Attended 189 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:29.639 school in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, including Mariposa Elementary School, where in 190 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:33.519 the third grade, Nate's teacher wrote a progress report stating the following quote very 191 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:40.919 active, constantly moving, verbally abusive, rude, aggressive, much talk about 192 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:44.879 violence and sex. Hands all over the place, including other children, and 193 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.639 in his mouth. In seventh grade, Nate was moved to a new class 194 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:52.759 after multiple quarrels with other students. His grades began to slide due to quote 195 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:57.120 many instances of behavior problems. Former classmates described Nate as your typical bully who 196 00:16:57.159 --> 00:17:02.480 was disrespectful towards females. Some say he thought he was superior to others. 197 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:06.319 On the other hand, there are some who say that it was actually Nate 198 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.680 who was bullied, not the other way around. It said that Nate was 199 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:14.440 belittled over his weight and teased about his heritage. However, it certainly appears 200 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:18.039 that Nate's parents were indifferent to their son's behavior, not taking any of it 201 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:22.200 seriously. Indeed, there were reports from some of Nate's former teachers that his 202 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:26.519 father quote had a reputation for being disrespectful of female teachers and dismissive of complaints 203 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:32.319 about his son. His lack of concern was further demonstrated in nineteen ninety nine 204 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:34.559 when Nate was in eighth grade and a teacher sent a letter to his parents 205 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:40.920 saying that Nate quote had an attitude and inability to show self control. In 206 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:45.359 two thousand, Nate started at Martin County High School, although his attendance didn't 207 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:48.279 last long. Not long after the school year commenced, Nate was expelled after 208 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:52.400 getting into a fight during math class. The then fourteen year old was handcuffed 209 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:56.480 and charged with a single count of battery along with one count of disrupting school. 210 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.720 The charges were later dropped, but Nate wasn't welcomed back to school. 211 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.640 For their part, the school stated that they attempted to guide Nate to making 212 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:11.480 better choices and practicing self control, but nothing ever stuck. Nate's dad always 213 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.720 took up for his son and was never willing to accept or admit that his 214 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:21.079 child was in the wrong. After his expulsion, Nate was enrolled in an 215 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:26.240 alternative education program called Spectrum. The program was tailored towards students with behavioral issues. 216 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.799 He seemed to perform well enough at the new school for a short time 217 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:33.920 at least one classmate from this time described Nate as more of a prankster who 218 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.640 would act out in class, but he wasn't a troublemaker yet. After the 219 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:45.039 September eleventh terrorist attacks, Nate stood up in class and cheered. It wouldn't 220 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:48.319 be an appropriate reaction today, but this was two thousand and one, so 221 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:52.839 a swift response ensued, including calling Nate's dad to school. When he arrived, 222 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:56.160 he smacked Nate across the face in front of everyone and took him home. 223 00:18:56.759 --> 00:19:00.039 Nate was suspended for five days as a result. Didn't long before Nate 224 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:04.480 found himself in another fight and was subsequently shipped to yet another school, Saint 225 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:10.799 Lucy West Centennial High School. That transfer wasn't successful either, and Nate was 226 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:15.559 sent off to yet another school called Martin County Stewart Adult Vocational School, though 227 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:19.319 the reason for this move is unknown. Nate managed to graduate from the vocational 228 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:23.160 school, but it wasn't without several issues along the way. For example, 229 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:27.400 he was suspended for forty eight cumulative days due to fighting, several of which 230 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:33.440 resulted in injuries to other students. From two thousand and two to two thousand 231 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:37.319 and six, Nate worked a variety of jobs, including cashier at Chick fil 232 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:41.000 A, bagging groceries at Public's, Gold's, Jim Hollister Clothing Company, Walgreen's, 233 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:45.160 Nutrition World, GNC, and Circuit City. In case you weren't keeping 234 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:49.319 count, that's eight different jobs within four years for the time. It's a 235 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.759 wonder he managed to land any kind of job with such a poor employment history. 236 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:57.440 Perhaps he was bullied. Nate became fixated with fitness. In working out, 237 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:02.079 he turned the extra weight and to a muscle mass, which Nate admired, 238 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.200 so he began taking steroids, which he purchased online, along with a 239 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:11.880 multitude of supplements and protein powders from GNC. Those who knew Nate recounted different 240 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:15.720 versions of the same person. Some say he was very serious, while others 241 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:18.680 claim that he was a party boy who was always up for fun, including 242 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:22.279 going to parties and underage drinking. In two thousand and six, Nate legally 243 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:26.960 changed his name, though research isn't clear on why. That same year, 244 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.960 he made the decision that he wanted to pursue becoming a police officer, like 245 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:34.880 he did many other times that he set a goal. Nate became consumed with 246 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:38.839 the need to become a cop. He immediately enrolled in the Indian River Community 247 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:41.880 College and graduated in August of two thousand and six with a two point seven 248 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:48.440 to six GPA and an associate's degree in Criminal Justice Technology. He crafted a 249 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:55.519 MySpace page to include selfies wearing NYPD shirts. That fall, Nate quit working 250 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:59.079 at GNC, leaving a handwritten note for his supervisor saying that he was leaving 251 00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:02.640 to focus on his police career. He landed a new job right away, 252 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:07.480 working as a corrections officer for fourteen dollars an hour at the Martin Correctional Institution, 253 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:11.279 an adult male prison located in Indian Town, Florida. He was hired 254 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:15.720 on a probationary period and was required to take an oath as an officer, 255 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:18.880 so on October twenty seventh, two thousand and six, Nate promised to quote 256 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:22.720 uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Florida, and to 257 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:27.720 perform my duties faithfully and in accordance with my mission to ensure public safety. 258 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:33.519 Following his typical pattern, Nate didn't last long in this new career. In 259 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.359 April of two thousand and seven, he was terminated from his job as a 260 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:40.839 correctional officer. The precise reason why is unknown, but those close to him 261 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:45.279 say it was because he had made concerning threats towards the training academy. The 262 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:49.640 time spent working at the correctional facility wasn't wasted time. However, Nate utilized 263 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:53.039 his time in a very specific way, learning the ins and outs of the 264 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:57.160 law enforcement side of the criminal justice system. He was able to attend a 265 00:21:57.160 --> 00:22:03.720 training academy designed for correction officers, firefighters, and police officers at Indian River 266 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:07.119 State College. There, he learned how to shoot with precision, and he 267 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:11.240 became an excellent shot. Yet, because Nate couldn't help but be Nate, 268 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:15.200 he got himself into trouble when, just after the Virginia Tech shooting, he 269 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:19.119 asked a classmate if they would report him for bringing a firearm to the campus. 270 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.319 The other student acted immediately reporting the threat, and Nate was expelled from 271 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:30.039 the academy. Officials cited Nate's actions as quote at best, extremely disturbing. 272 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:36.440 While the incident was documented, Nate wasn't ever charged. In September of two 273 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.680 thousand and seven, Nate was hired by a security firm based out of London, 274 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.200 called G four S. G four S is one of the largest security 275 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:47.880 firms on the globe, employing over six hundred and twenty three thousand across one 276 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:52.640 hundred and ten countries. A part of his role of security included a permit 277 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:56.319 to carry a concealed weapon, which further exposed him to the objects that he 278 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:00.079 grew to believe provided the means for him to achieve the ultimate power of taking 279 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:06.079 another life. Nate got married in April two thousand and nine to a woman 280 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.480 he met through an online dating website. She was a real estate agent from 281 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:11.240 New Jersey, and she moved to be with Nate and Port Saint Lucie, 282 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:15.279 which is where they held the wedding. Initially, the couple lived with Nate's 283 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:21.720 parents, and almost immediately the physical and emotional abuse began. His wife claims 284 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:26.359 that Nate was volatile, enraged at her with open hands and fists for the 285 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:30.119 smallest infraction, such as not finishing laundry. Nate spent most of his free 286 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:33.559 time at the gym, so his wife wasn't privy to his secrets, like 287 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:38.440 his increasingly extremest beliefs. The marriage didn't last long, and they separated after 288 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:42.160 nine months. And divorced in June of twenty eleven, a mere three months 289 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:47.119 later, Nate remarried another woman he met online. His new wife was a 290 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:51.359 Palestinian American woman who was raised in Rodeo Beach, California, and it was 291 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.279 a second marriage for each. The new couple moved into Nate's two bedroom condo 292 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:59.000 in Fort Pierce, Florida. In September of twenty twelve, Nate and his 293 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:03.279 wife welcomed his first child, a son. On the surface, it was 294 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:07.480 an idyllic time in their lives. Nate started visiting the Islamic center of Fort 295 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:11.720 Pierce, oftentimes with his son and father. His three sisters each volunteered at 296 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:18.200 the mosque quite frequently and were well known there. Nate not so much the 297 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:22.039 mosques. A mom later reported that Nate kept to himself. He would arrive, 298 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:27.960 pray, and then leave. It seems that perhaps Nate was harboring a 299 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:33.680 few deep secrets, maybe even from himself. Though he was married, it 300 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:37.759 appears he grappled with his own sexuality, and several people he knew from his 301 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:41.119 days at Indian River Community College later said that they always assumed that Nate was 302 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:47.319 gay and were surprised to learn he was married to a woman. One such 303 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.880 classmate claimed that Nate even tried hitting on him at a local bar. It 304 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:53.839 was during a time when he was partying hard. He and several classmates would 305 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:59.319 typically go to nightclubs after their late classes. Some reported that he met several 306 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:03.319 people through gay dating apps such as Grinder and jacked. On the other hand, 307 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:07.960 there was clearly some deep confliction within himself, because Nate also had an 308 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:11.200 episode where he was faced with two men expressing public displays of affection, which 309 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:17.160 utterly enraged Nate. During the time Nate worked for the security firm, he 310 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:19.920 was caught making concerning statements to coworkers, which was enough to bring him to 311 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:25.640 the attention of the FBI, who promptly opened a preliminary investigation into Nate. 312 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:30.599 He was placed into the bureau's terrorism database, but the FBI declined to comment 313 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:33.440 on whether he was listed on a no fly list. Nate was being surveilled 314 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:37.720 by the FBI, who had begun recording his calls and seeking out confidential informants 315 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:42.119 who could report on his level of radicalism. At one point, the FBI 316 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:47.440 actually brought Nate in for questioning, and he confessed to making the alleged statements 317 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.880 out of anger towards his coworkers, who had been making fun of him for 318 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:55.480 being Muslim. The investigation was active for approximately ten months before it was closed 319 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.799 and Nate was determined not to be a threat. Shortly after the case was 320 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:03.240 Nate was removed from the terrorist watch list. In July of twenty fourteen, 321 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:07.200 Nate landed on the FBI's radar again after he was linked to a suicide bombing 322 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:14.200 in Syria from May of twenty fourteen. In July of twenty fourteen, Nate 323 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.119 landed on the FBI's radar again after he was linked to a suicide bombing in 324 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:22.920 Syria from May of the same year. It was committed by an American who 325 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:26.599 attended the same mosque as Nate, which is what brought him to their attention. 326 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:32.359 It's unclear whether anything came from the alert. Nate legally purchased the weapons 327 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:36.440 used in the shooting. Both were purchased two weeks before at a gun shop 328 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:40.960 in Port Saint Lucy in June of twenty sixteen. He also tried to purchase 329 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:45.279 body armour and one thousand rounds of bulk ammunition from a different gun store However, 330 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:48.400 one of the shop owners became suspicious and refused Nate the sale. One 331 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:52.240 of the shop's employees claimed to have reported the incident to the FBI, but 332 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:56.200 they say there is no record of the report. Some time between the initial 333 00:26:56.240 --> 00:27:00.160 gun purchase and the shooting, Nate and his wife returned to the store to 334 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:03.759 buy AMMO. Between June first and sixth, Nate and his wife visited Disney 335 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:08.119 World and Disney Springs. Interestingly, they visited during the Gay Day celebration, 336 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:12.599 and this may have been a few of the many scouting missions disguised as a 337 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:18.559 family day. Between June fifth and ninth, he transferred his share of a 338 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:22.559 Port Saint Lucie home to his sister and brother in law for a paltry ten 339 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:26.279 dollars. Only four days before the shooting, and a mom at a mosque 340 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:29.880 and kissing Me released a video of Nate. He was praying and the video 341 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:33.839 went on that way. Well, he was praying and the video went on 342 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:37.519 that way for ten minutes. Why the video was released isn't known, but 343 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:44.920 it certainly doesn't seem coincidental. Mere hours before the shooting, Nate visited his 344 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:48.759 father, who later reported that his son didn't act strangely or out of the 345 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:53.119 ordinary in any manner. That same day, Nate gave his wife one thousand 346 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:56.839 dollars before she left the home to go visit her mother in California, which 347 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:00.319 seemed suspicious enough that the wife was charged, which criminally, with being an 348 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:04.720 accessory to a crime. A jury later found her not guilty, citing the 349 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:10.920 prosecution's inability to reach the burden of evidentiary proof. Nate was buried in the 350 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:15.599 Muslim cemetery of South Florida and Hyalaia Gardens. His cause of death was multiple 351 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:22.160 gunshot wounds, and the only substance found in his system was caffeine. It 352 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:26.880 bears mentioning again. The FBI has been reluctant to label the shooting a hate 353 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:34.039 crime, but the facts are the facts. Ninety percent of the victims were 354 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:41.759 lgbtqia plus and ninety percent were Latino. The shooter expressed a distaste for the 355 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:48.839 lgbtqia plus community, and he displayed a very obvious allegiance to foreign terrorist groups. 356 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.519 We all have the unique ability to help prevent such a catastrophic event from 357 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:59.880 happening if we keep our eyes and ears open and never hesitate to report, 358 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:04.920 and something or someone just doesn't seem right. With the delicate balance of mental 359 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:11.319 health reform, education, active shooter training, and common sense gun laws, 360 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:15.119 we may one day realize the dream, the dream that there will be no 361 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:22.920 more active shootings. We pray that love will prevail over hate. In the 362 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:26.799 meantime, we urge our listeners to stay aware of your surroundings and keep in 363 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:33.440 touch with your loved ones. If you see something, say something, you 364 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:44.400 never know how many lives you'll be saving. Thank you for listening to today's 365 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:49.279 episode of Active Shooter the Podcast. Remember, if you see something, say 366 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:55.200 something, there's no telling how many lives you may be saving. A big 367 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:59.359 thank you to Darren Curtis, who composed some of the songs on our show. 368 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:07.359 You can find him online at www dot Darrencurtis music dot com. Make 369 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:11.200 sure to check us out on social media. You can find us on Facebook 370 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:18.720 at Active Shooter the Podcast and on Twitter at podcast Active. Thank you and 371 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:18.359 be safe.