Orlando police: Mass casualties after club shooting; gunman dead

update 8:30 Am Approximately 20 people are dead and scores wounded after a gunman opened fire and took hostages at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, police said. Officials said a hostage situation developed after the gunman stormed the Pulse Nightclub about 2 a.m Sunday. The assailant was shot dead about three hours later when a SWAT team entered the club, police said. Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a multiple shooting at Pulse nightclub. Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism, officials said. "We are looking at probably in the range of 20 [dead], but we don't want to give you an exact figure," Orlando Police Chief John Mina told press. He said 42 people had been transferred to local hospitals. Minda said a uniformed officer working extra duty exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who was armed with an assault-type rifle, a handgun and some type of suspicious device. "The officer engaged in a gun battle with that suspect. The suspect at some point went back inside the club and more shots were fired. This did turn into a hostage situation," Mina said. Officials made the decision "to go in on a rescue" just after 5 a.m. Mina said, adding that an officer was injured after being shot in the head. "It appears his helmet saved his life," he said. "So he has an injury to his eye, but it looks like the bullet did hit his helmet."

Univision Florida Central / Handout / EPA

The gunman opened fire in the crowded well-known central Florida nightclub at around 2 a.m. Orlando police described the scene as “a mass casualty situation”and said that the shooter was dead inside the club.

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