Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed 49 people at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, could be charged in connection to the shooting.
A federal grand jury has gathered and could charge Noor Salman, Orlando shooter’s wife. Prosecutors are attempting to charge her as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder, as well as for failing to inform law enforcement about the impending attack. Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, said there are “no impending charges” in regards to Salman.
Salman, 30, met Mateen, 29, online and they married in 2011. She has Palestinian roots and grew up near Rodeo, California. She and Mateen have a 3-year-old son together.
Salman is currently cooperating with the FBI. She had suspicions that her husband was planning an attack and attempted to deter him as he was leaving for Orlando on Saturday night. A U.S. law enforcement official, who has asked not to be identified, revealed that the couple visited the nightclub between June 5 and June 9. Investigations have also revealed that she accompanied him at a point to buy ammunition. Reportedly, Mateen bought the guns in early June.
Mateen’s first wife, Sitora Yusifiy, who was married to him in 2009, told the media that he was abusive towards her.
The investigation seeks to confirm Salman’s story as well as to determine if she was abused within her marriage. Her role may take on a different meaning if it is determined that she was a victim of abuse or feared for her life.
“With respect to the wife, I can tell you that is only one of many interviews that we have done and will continue to do in this investigation,” FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper said. “I cannot comment on the outcome or the outcome of that investigation.”
