{"id":13824,"date":"2023-06-20T09:27:09","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T09:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icoca.ch\/?post_type=case_studies&p=13824"},"modified":"2024-01-31T11:01:12","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T11:01:12","slug":"pulse-nightclub-the-security-guard-killer-with-a-trail-of-red-flags","status":"publish","type":"case_studies","link":"https:\/\/icoca.ch\/es\/case-studies\/pulse-nightclub-the-security-guard-killer-with-a-trail-of-red-flags\/","title":{"rendered":"PULSE NIGHTCLUB: THE SECURITY GUARD KILLER"},"content":{"rendered":"

Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Omar Mateen had allegedly previously been interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2013 and 2014 after reports of extremist behaviour and connections to terrorism. Mateen had falsely claimed to be associated with the Boston marathon bombers, in addition to claiming connection to both Al Qaeda and Hezbollah. However, these allegations were determined to be insubstantial. Throughout these FBI investigations, Mateen was still allowed to work at G4S.<\/p>\n

Mateen was allegedly only psychologically evaluated once at the start of his employment with G4S, and not again once the company was put on notice that he had been interviewed by the FBI.<\/p>\n

One of Mateen\u00b4s former co-workers alleged that he \u201csaw it coming\u201d based on Mateen\u00b4s behaviour, which involved talking about killing people \u201call the time,\u201d and always being angry. Allegedly, Mateen made it clear he did not like \u201cblacks, women, lesbians, and jews.\u201d The former co-worker allegedly complained multiple times to G4S about these comments, and ultimately quit his job due to harassment from Mateen. G4S continued to employ Mateen, who obtained a \u201csecurity officer\u201d licence to buy firearms in addition to his state licence and concealed carry permit.<\/p>\n

Prior to this incident, G4S had previously been accused of improperly vetting its employees. One incident involved a former paratrooper who killed two colleagues in Iraq, allegedly claiming to be the \u201cantichrist.\u201d An official investigation revealed that G4S did not properly vet his psychological health.<\/p>\n

The Incident\"\"<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On June 12, 2016, Pulse Nightclub, an LGBTQ nightclub, was hosting its popular Latin Night. Just after 2:00 AM that night, more than 300 people were inside the nightclub when Mateen opened fire near the entrance. After an off-duty police officer engaged in gunfire with Mateen, and several police officers with SWAT training exchanged gunfire with Mateen, Mateen was allegedly able to continue to move through the club. At 2:35 in the morning, Mateen allegedly called 911 and professed his \u201callegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.\u201d After police had cornered Mateen in a bathroom area, the situation became a hostage situation, and Mateen spoke to negotiators three times. At 5:02 in the morning, Orlando police triggered a controlled detonation and smashed through the wall of the club with an armoured vehicle. Mateen was killed after engaging in a gun battle with about a dozen officers. At the time of the shooting, the Pulse attack was the deadliest mass shooting in United States history, with 49 fatalities.<\/p>\n

Legal Aspects <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Court cases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A lawsuit was filed by victims, survivors, and representatives alleging that G4S, the security company that provided firearms training to Mateen, should be held liable for damages resulting from the attack. The lawsuit alleged that the security firm ignored his comments supporting violence prior to the mass shooting, and failed to remove his service weapon and recommend his firearms licence be removed when they should have.<\/p>\n

However, a judge threw out the lawsuit in April 2019, writing that G4S did not have civil liability for the attack because Mateen was not working for the firm at the time of the attack.<\/p>\n

The International Code of Conduct <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Further, the International Code of Conduct<\/a> requires stringent selection and vetting of personnel, assessment of performance and duties (paragraphs 45 to 49), and training of personnel of the Code and relevant international law, including human rights and international criminal law (paragraph 55). Meeting the requirements of the Code of Conduct, can help private security companies and their clients ensure that private security personnel are qualified, trained, supported, informed, and responsible.<\/p>\n

Meeting the requirements of the Code of Conduct can help private security companies and their clients ensure that private security personnel are qualified, trained, supported, informed, and responsible.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Settlements and Fines <\/strong><\/h3>\n

G4S, who employed Mateen, was fined $151,400 by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for allegedly\u00a0 providing inaccurate psychological testing information on forms that allowed employees to carry guns. The Department discovered that G4S had listed the name of a psychologist who no longer practised as the screener on Mateen\u00b4s form, in addition to more than 1,500 other employees over a 10 year period.<\/p>\n

The amount was the largest on record under the specific state law.<\/p>\n

Stock Prices <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once it was revealed that Omar Mateen, the shooter at Pulse Nightclub, was a G4S employee, shares in G4S fell dramatically. The G4S shares dropped by as much as 7.5%. When G4S\u00b4s shares dropped, it wiped out about $280 million in company value.<\/p>\n

Discussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What role does continuous psychological evaluation play in the vetting of security personnel?<\/p>\n

Related incidents<\/strong><\/h2>\n