Trial of Noor Salman, the widow of the Pulse gunman, continues
ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - After a three day break, the trial against Noor Salman, the widow of the gunman who killed 49 people at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub in 2016, continued on Monday.
Last week, the jury heard opening statements, listened to victim's testimony, and watched video from inside the nightclub on the night of the attack.
On Monday, FBI special agent Ricardo Enriquez, who works out of the Miami office and administers polygraph tests, spoke. He was asked to come up to Ft. Pierce while Noor Salman was at the field officer to administer a test.
Enriquez stated that Salman dictated that Omar Mateen had been watching ISIS recruiting videos, violent jihad videos, and beheadings online—sometimes in front of their son. When Salman asked him to stop he refused. During this time he became increasingly vocal about Muslims dying in the Middle East and unfairness that Muslims retaliate they are attacked.
Enriquez also said that Salman said in her statement to him that a Mateen spent a lot of money, including $7,000 on a ring for Salman, buying a rifle, and $80 worth of ammunition. She also said that she was worried he might do something bad.
Salman also reportedly left a handwritten note with the statement that Enriquez collected, saying that “I am sorry for what happened and I wish I’d go back and tell his family and the police what he was going to do.”
When Enriquez asked her to read the last sentence of that note, Salman is said to have began crying and said she knew what Mateen was planning.
Salman also reportedly statement to Enrique that Salman knew Mateen was preparing for “jihad” when he bought the rifle, went to the shooting range, began spending money, and bought ammunition. He says she says that Mateen was targeting a club because of things he said to her, and she knew on Saturday he was “going to do something bad.”
Enriquez continued to speak, saying that Salman said she went to Orlando with Mateen a week prior to the attack and they drove around the club for 20 minutes. While driving slowly around and looking around, Omar asked, “how upset are people going to be when it gets attacked?”
Enriquez goes on to say on the night before the attack, Salman said she saw Mateen looking at the Pulse night club website. On Saturday when Mateen left at 5pm, he stated, “this is the one day.” And Salman knew when he left he was going to Orlando to attack the Pulse night club.
Enriquez says that Salman also then wrote down that "I’m very sorry I lied to the FBI, these are my words.”
Enriquez finished up questioning before lunch by saying that he did not submit Salman to a polygraph test following the interview because they had been talking for 4 hours and he wanted her to get food and rest. He says Salman agreed to meet again and take a polygraph test at a later date. He says after finishing the interview, Salman asked him when she would get money Mateen left her.
Noor Salman is charged with aiding and abetting her husband, Omar Mateen. She's pleaded not guilty.