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State attorney: No friendly-fire casualties in Pulse mass shooting, all officers cleared


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ORLANDO — Law enforcement officers who rushed to the Pulse nightclub massacre fired more than 180 bullets — but no civilians were shot by friendly fire, Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala's office has determined.

Ayala announced the findings and cleared all 14 officers who fired their weapons of any wrongdoing during a press conference Wednesday morning at Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

Forty-nine people were killed and dozens suffered injuries during the June 2016 massacre at the popular South Orange Avenue nightclub.

The gunman, Omar Mateen, was killed by police at the scene.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Deborah Barra said 11 Orlando police officers and three Orange County Sheriff Office deputies fired during five separate engagements with the shooter.

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