Co-worker: Employer Did Nothing About 'Unhinged' Mateen Because He Was Muslim

A coworker of Omar Mateen, the man who murdered 50 people and wounded 53 in a gay night club over the weekend, accused his former employer of doing nothing about Mateen’s alarming behavior because he was Muslim.

Daniel Gilroy, who worked at G4S security with Mateen, said he complained to his employer about Mateen’s behavior and then finally quit when nothing was done about it.

Gilroy worked with Mateen for several months in 2014 and 2015. Mateen worked the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift and took over for Gilroy, who worked from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“I quit because everything he said was toxic,” Gilroy said Sunday, “and the company wouldn’t do anything. This guy was unhinged and unstable. He talked of killing people.”

Gilroy, a former Fort Pierce police officer, said Mateen frequently made homophobic and racial comments. Gilroy said he complained to his employer several times but it did nothing because he was Muslim. Gilroy quit after he said Mateen began stalking him via multiple text messages — 20 or 30 a day. He also sent Gilroy 13 to 15 phone messages a day, he said.

Gilroy said he was not surprised about the shooting.

Mateen was most recently working as armed security guarding a retirement home in Port Lucie, Florida.

Another acquaintance said of Mateen, “I always knew something was off with him.” Jerome Knight, who lived in the community guarded by Mateen, said women would get a “creepy vibe” when they talked to him.

Mateen attend the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce and was “a loner” at nightly prayer services. “He wouldn’t talk or sit with any other members,” said Dr. Syed Shafeeq Rahman, imam for the mosque.