Records of Omar Mateen, the perpetrator of the recent Orlando shooting, the deadliest spree of its kind in the United States, show that he worked a number of jobs before working as a security guard at the British-based G4S.
Mateen’s first job in 2002 was at a Publix supermarket in Palm City, Florida. He would go on to work for Circuit City and Chick-fil-A in Jensen Beach in 2003 and 2004, respectively; Walgreens in Port St. Lucie in 2004; Nutrition World and Gold’s Gym in 2005; and Hollister and GNC in a Jensen Beach mall in 2006.
Mateen had attended Martin County Adult Vocational School, receiving his high school diploma in 2003, and finished a two-year associate’s degree program at Indian River Community College in 2006.
His emphasis during community college was in criminal justice, which is a discipline that is required for members of law enforcement in Florida.
Mateen briefly used his degree to land a position at the Martin Correctional Institution, which is part of the grander Florida Department of Corrections. He was only an employee at the facility for about six months.
G4S hired Mateen in September 2007, and he passed a thorough background check. He was screened by G4S again in 2013, and while inquiries from the FBI did appear, they showed as being closed.
While at G4S, Mateen mainly worked in the capacity of a security guard at a gated retirement community in South Florida. He also had a brief stint as a guard at Fort Pierce’s St. Lucie County Courthouse.
Documents show that Mateen’s self-reported income in May 2011 was $1,600.