A recent report by the Orlando Police Department has revealed that the former owners of Pulse nightclub have been cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the tragic mass shooting that took place in June 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
The investigation into potential criminal charges against Barbara and Rosario Poma, the previous owners of Pulse, began over a year ago and involved interviews with 23 individuals. These interviews led to allegations of code violations and unpermitted renovations that some believed may have contributed to the high death toll during the shooting.
Among the allegations were claims that police did not have immediate access to building plans during the hostage situation, unpermitted renovations were made to the nightclub, occupancy violations occurred, the nightclub operated with the wrong permit designation, and there were security failures.
However, the police investigation found that it is not standard procedure for officers to have immediate access to floor plans for private businesses and that not having this access did not hinder the law enforcement response to the shooting. Additionally, the nightclub was found to have complied with occupancy regulations in the majority of unannounced inspections conducted by the Orlando Fire Department between 2005 and 2016.
The FBI had previously stated that the gunman, Omar Mateen, carried out the mass shooting in support of ISIS, resulting in the tragic loss of 49 lives and injuries to 53 others. Mateen was killed after a three-hour standoff with SWAT team members.
Orlando Police concluded that the actions taken by the Pomas were not done with reckless disregard for human life and that they could not have foreseen a terrorist attack at the nightclub. As a result, the Pulse owners have been cleared of any potential criminal liability.
Despite the findings of the investigation, some survivors, like Orlando Torres, have expressed disagreement with the outcome. Torres emphasized the importance of ensuring that all establishments are up to code to allow for safe and proper evacuation in emergency situations.
