ORLANDO, Fla. _ Dozens of surviving victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, and families of those who died, filed suit Wednesday against the shooter's wife and his former employer, G4S security firm.
The complaint, filed in Fort Pierce federal court, alleges that G4S, had knowledge of Mateen's mental instability and intent to harm prior to the event. The suit alleges that the company maintained its stance that Mateen was psychologically sound and fit to carry a firearm on the job as a security agent.
Despite troubling statements made to co-workers, the company failed to comply with its own internal protocol to report changes in Omar Mateen's mental health and seize his weapon, the lawsuit says. The mental health validation issued by his employer was reviewed by Florida officials before Mateen purchased the weapons used in the Pulse nightclub tragedy, the suit says.
It also alleges G4S had been fined by the State of Florida for falsifying mental health validations for other employees in the past.
The suit says Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, also had prior knowledge of his violent intentions and did not report him to authorities.
"The evidence we've seen clearly shows there were multiple warning signs before the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting, and we believe those named in this complaint _ the employer of Omar Mateen and his wife _ could have and should have taken steps to prevent this senseless act of violence," said lawyer Antonio Romanucci, who is handling the suit.
G4S is the world's largest security company headquartered in Britain, and its U.S. subsidiary, G4S Security Solutions, is based in Jupiter.
After the shooting on June 12, G4S released a statement saying that Mateen had worked for them for several years.
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragic event that occurred at the Orlando nightclub," the statement said. "We can confirm that Omar Mateen had been employed with G4S since September 10, 2007. We are cooperating fully with all law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, as they conduct their investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends, families and people affected by this unspeakable tragedy."
Salman was arrested in January, about seven months after her husband opened fire in the Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring at least 68 others. She is charged with aiding and abetting her husband. Mateen was killed in a shootout with police about three hours after he first started shooting at the LGBTQ club's Latin Night celebration.
The lawsuit describes Mateen's disturbing comments and threats to co-workers, which have previously been reported in media accounts as follows:
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In 2013, while working as an armed guard for G4S at the St. Lucie Courthouse, Mateen told a deputy sheriff that he would have the terror group al-Qaeda kill the coworker's family; bragged to a co-worker about being associated with the Boston Marathon bombers; told colleagues that he had family connections to terror groups al-Qaeda, and that he hoped law enforcement would raid his home so he could martyr himself.
"During this time period, Mateen also praised Nidal Hasan, the Army major who shot forty-five people at Fort Hood, to his coworkers.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department reported Mateen's conduct to G4S management, requested his immediate and permanent removal from the St. Lucie County Courthouse, and told the FBI. Mateen was interviewed two times by the FBI.
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The lawsuit says G4S declined re-evaluate Mateen, require any behavioral intervention, or suspend his ability to carry a weapon.
"Any of these actions may have resulted in Mateen's dismissal and/or the revocation of his firearms license," the suit says.
