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Father of Orlando nightclub shooter attends Clinton rally

Hillary Clinton
Posted at 4:52 PM, Aug 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-09 16:52:00-04

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - The father of the Orlando gay nightclub shooter was spotted at a campaign event for Hillary Clinton in central Florida.

Seddique Mateen was standing in a crowd behind Clinton during the Monday night event in Kissimmee, south of Orlando. A campaign official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he wasn't invited to attend the 3,000-person, open-door public event and that the campaign wasn't aware he was there until it ended.

Mateen told news outlets after the rally that he loves "the United States."

Omar Mateen fatally shot 49 people and injured another 53 at Pulse nightclub on June 12. He was killed by law enforcement officers following a three-hour standoff.

The father says his family has been cooperating with investigators.

During her speech, Clinton expressed support for the survivors of the attack and the loved ones of those killed.