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Possible motives emerge in attack Obama struggles for solutions
By JASON DEAREN and TERRANCE HARRIS Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — As thousands in Orlando turned out to mourn 49 people killed inside a gay nightclub, federal investigators examined possible motives for the gunman who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The White House and the FBI said Omar Mateen, 29, an American-born Muslim, appears to be a “homegrown extremist” who had touted support not just for the Islamic State, but other radical groups that are its enemies. “So far, we see no indication that this was a plot directed from outside the United States, and we see no indication that he was part of any kind of network,” FBI Director James Comey said Monday. He said Mateen was clearly “radicalized,” at least in part via the internet. Despite Mateen’s pledge of support to the Islamic State, other possible explanations emerged. His ex-wife said he suffered from mental illness. His Afghan-immigrant father suggested he may have acted out of anti-gay hatred, and said his son got angry recently about seeing two men kiss. But questions also emerged over whether Mateen was conflicted about his own sexuality. Jim Van Horn, 71, said Mateen was a “regular” at the popular Pulse nightclub where he’d later take hostages and leave 49 dead. “He was trying to pick up people. Men,” Van Horn told The Associated Press late Monday outside the Parliament House, another gay club. Van Horn, a retired pharmacist, said he met Mateen once, and the younger man talked about his ex-wife. But Van Horn said his friends soon “told me they didn’t want me talking to him, because they thought he was a strange person.” Van Horn acknowledged he didn’t know Mateen well, but said he suspects the massacre Continued on Page 12
By JOSH LEDERMAN and KATHLEEN HENNESSEY Associated Press
CURTIS COMPTON/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
INSIDE • A Philadelphia teenager killed in the massacre called her mother as she bled to death in the nightclub./Page 3
• Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton outlined dramatically different proposals for combating terrorism./Page 7
FRIENDS OF Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, who died from his wounds, were among thousands who attended a vigil Monday for those who lost loved ones in the nightclub attack.
WASHINGTON — Was it homegrown terrorism, bigotry or random gun violence? Americans searching for answers after the Orlando shootings are finding no easy solutions from President Barack Obama, who is conceding that a deadly mix of extremism and easy gun acPRESIDENT OBAMA cess have made future tragedies almost a foregone conclusion. In the days after the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, Obama has offered no simple prescriptions or promises for new action — even as the candidates vying for his job put forward aggressive plans of their own. Instead, the president has suggested the root causes behind a “disturbed” man’s actions are difficult to determine and may be less Continued on Page 12
Experts question response by police By LISA MARIE PANE Associated Press
As the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history began to unfold, an off-duty police officer working at a gay nightclub exchanged gunfire with the suspect. But three hours passed before a SWAT team stormed the building and brought the attack to an end. The decision by law enforcement to hold off on entering the Pulse club — where more than 100 people were shot, 49 of them killed
— immediately raised questions among experts in police tactics. They said the lessons learned from other mass shootings show that officers must get inside swiftly — even JOHN MINA at great risk — to stop the threat and save lives. “We live in a different world. And action beats inaction 100 percent
of the time,” said Chris Grollnek, an expert on active-shooter tactics and a retired police officer and SWAT team member. The gunman, Omar Mateen, first had a shootout with the off-duty officer at the club’s entrance. Then two other officers arrived and the firing continued. The situation changed from an active-shooter scenario to a hostage situation once Mateen made it into one of the bathrooms where club-goers were hiding, authorities said.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATED
Experts say there’s a big difference between responding to a lone gunman and a shooter who has hostages. In active-shooter situations, police are now trained to respond immediately, even if only one or two officers are available to confront the suspect. In a hostage crisis, law enforcement generally tries to negotiate. Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the presence of hostages required officers to “re-evaluate, reContinued on Page 12
INDIANA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Directors commit $425K to upgrade high school track
A MEDICAL helicopter and Citizens’ Ambulance Service paramedics transported the injured following an accident about 1:20 p.m. Monday at Route 119 and Lucerne Road in Center Township. Homer City and Indiana fire departments helped free the occupants of the vehicles, according to reports from the scene. State police today continued their investigation.
By CHAUNCEY ROSS
chauncey@indianagazette.net
TOM PEEL/Gazette
House approves hybrid pension plan By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG — A bipartisan vote in the Pennsylvania House on Monday showed fresh momentum in efforts to change the state’s two large public-sector pension plans by directing new state and public school hires into a combination of a traditional pension and a 401(k)-type benefit. The House voted 150-41 for legislation that would let employees earn a traditional pension benefit on only their first $50,000 of pay, a cap that would increase 3 percent annually. It would not affect benefits for
those already working in state government and public schools and would exempt state troopers. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Schuylkill, called it a major change that would eventually save billions of dollars. “Future employees will be subject to a plan that is more suitable to a modern workforce,” Tobash told colleagues during floor debate. But opponents described it as an
“WE MAY be making some adjustments ... and we will be making a small step in that direction. But this goes absolutely nowhere to correcting the problem.” Rep. Cris Dush inadequate way to address the skyrocketing costs of public pensions. “Let’s not continue the travesty of pension depredation that’s forced on our taxpayers,” said Rep. John Continued on Page 4
Index Classifieds ...............22-24 Comics/TV....................19 Dear Abby .....................11
Entertainment ..............21 Family .............................8 Health............................10 Lottery.............................2 Outdoors.......................18 Sports.......................12-18 Today in History...........11 Viewpoint .......................6
The running track at the Indiana Area Senior High School has outlasted its expected useful life and will be replaced before the start of soccer competition this fall, school officials said Monday. The school district’s board of directors approved a contract with Nagle Athletic Surfaces, of Montreal, Canada, to remove and replace the track, perform additional excavation and resurfacing at the far side of the tract to restore integrity to the outermost running lane, and to excavate and replace the pole vault area, at a total cost of about $425,000. Head track coach Steve Cochran urged the board to approve the project, saying the improvements would help 200 track and field athletes, all the students in the physical education classes and dozens of local residents who exercise daily at the track. Cochran said the surface has some cracks and drainage problems. “It’s just something that
Deaths 68 78 Mostly cloudy tonight. Showers on Wednesday. Page 2
Obituaries on Page 4 BURHENNE, Frances C., 82, Blacklick Township COWAN, Raymond J., 91, Clyde ERDMAN, Jane Sandra, 69, Indiana FRANTZ, Darlene M., 45, Beyer RHINE, Geraldine L., 78, Clarington, formerly of Homer City Late death BYERLY, F. Laird, 91, Indiana
has to be done,” Cochran said, calling the disrepair a safety issue. Cochran said the problem with the outside ring, Lane 6, was created by the last contractor that replaced the track between 16 and 18 years ago. “The last company, which is no longer in business, sort of short-changed us,” Cochran said. “They shifted our track over as requested but left Lane 6 on the outside at a non-regulation width, so we actually have a … non-regulation track. “The other part of the project … part of the pole vault area, has a concrete slab under it, and this seems to be an appropriate time to include that with the entire project. We hope you also agree to surface that area which would make it a safer environment. The ground has eroded and exposed the concrete in many areas.” “The district already has $250,000 budgeted for this, based on what we thought the project would cost,” said board member John Uccellini, chairman of the Buildings Grounds and Continued on Page 12 Yarnick’s Farm (724) 349-3904 Strawberries, Strawberries, Strawberries! Invitations For All Occasions. White Lace. (724) 762-1278 www.whitelacestylists.com