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Gun Shop Owner: Orlando Killer Bought Weapons Legally

'I'm just sorry he picked my place. I wish he picked no place," Ed Henson told reporters

The owner of a gun store where the Orlando nightclub shooter bought his weapons said Monday the gunman passed a full background check and that if he hadn't bought the guns from him, he would've purchased them somewhere else.

Ed Henson, owner of the St. Lucie Shooting Center, told reporters during a news conference outside his business that Omar Mateen legally purchased a long gun and a handgun about a week ago but he didn't know exactly when. He said they weren't bought on the same day.

Henson said Mateen had two security licenses, an armed one and an unarmed one. He added he is sorry the "evil person" bought the guns from his store.

"It's horrible," said Henson, who according to NBC News is a retired NYPD police officer. "I'm just sorry he picked my place. I wish he picked no place but that's society."

The 29-year-old Mateen was killed in a shootout with police after he attacked a gay nightclub early Sunday. At least 49 other people died in the attack.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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