Your tip
Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail

Omar Mateen Called Local TV Station During Orlando Nightclub Massacre

//Orlando Shooting Omar Mateen Calls TV Station During Massacre

June 15 2016, Published 2:23 p.m. ET

RadarOnline CommentsLink to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

Amid the chaos Sunday morning when the Orlando shooter terrorized Pulse nightclub, a local news producer received a chilling phone call that would forever change his life, RadarOnline.com has learned.

According to News 13 producer Matthew Gentili, Omar Mateen, the deranged gunman who killed 49 club goers and left 53 injured, called the TV station and confessed to his horrific crime.

Gentili had been answering the phone to handle questions regarding the tragic shooting, but one call proved to be unlike the others.

Article continues below advertisement

"I will never forget the words he said to me," Gentilli said. "I answered the phone as I always do: 'News 13, this is Matt.' And on the other end, I heard, 'Do you know about the shooting?'"

The man, claiming to be the gunman, then said, "I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter — I did it for ISIS. I did it for the Islamic State."

After identifying himself as the alleged killer, the man began speaking Arabic, Gentilli recalled.

When he asked where the man was, Gentilli says he was told it was "none of my expletive business."

"It was silent for a while. I asked him, 'Is there anything else you want to say?' He said no and hung up the phone," the producer explained.

After the chilling incident, the FBI interviewed Gentili as a news station editor traced the number back to Mateen.

"I'm definitely changed," Gentili admitted. "When you get a phone call like that, I'm never going to be able to answer the phone again without thinking this is the most serious call I'll ever get in my life."

Radar Logo

Never Miss an

Exclusive

Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

READ MORE ON Celebrity

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.