'This Has Nothing To Do With Religion,' Orlando Shooter's Dad Says Before Releasing Video

The father of the man identified as the shooter in a massacre at an Orlando gay club has spoken out, insisting his son was not motivated by religion and releasing a video early Monday in which he laments the death of his son and his actions.

Fifty  people were killed and 53 more injured when a gunman opened fire in the Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Lounge early Sunday morning. About 350 people were inside the popular gay bar when shots rang out.

The shooter was identified as Omar Mateen, 29, of Port St. Lucie by U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-FL, during a Sunday morning press conference. Mateen was killed by law enforcement in an exchange of gunfire, Mina said.

Seddique Mir Mateen, the father of the shooter, posted a video on his Facebook page early Monday lamenting the loss of his son and his actions.

“My son, Omar Mateen, was a very good boy, an educated boy, who had a child and a wife, very respectful of his parents,” he in Dari, a language spoken in Afghanistan, according to a translation from The New York Times. 

“I don’t know what caused this,” he said. “I did not know and did not understand that he has anger in his heart. Only God can punish homosexuality. This is not an issue for humans to punish.” 

On Sunday, the father told NBC News the shooting “has nothing to do with religion.” He said his son became angry when he saw two men engaged in a kiss in Miami a few months ago. Seddique said he believes that is what motivated the shooting, NBC reported.

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“They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, ‘Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that,’” Seddique was quoted by NBC as saying.

State and local officials, however, are calling the shooting an act of terrorism.

“This is clearly an act of terrorism,” Gov. Rick Scott said during a Sunday afternoon press conference. “It’s sickening (and) it should make every American angry.”

FBI agent Ron Hopper told the media Sunday morning that the suspect, "may have leanings toward extreme Islamic ideologies."

Several media outlets reported that Mateen called 911 before the attack to declare his allegiance to ISIS.

The investigation into Sunday morning's shooting, which is being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, remains very much active.

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