Police: Orlando gunman, wife exchanged texts during shooting rampage

ORLANDO, Fla., June 17 (UPI) -- The gunman who killed 49 people at a Orlando, Fla., gay nightclub sent texts to his wife during the assault and asked, "Do you see what's happening?" law enforcement said.

Shortly after he opened fire at 2 a.m. Sunday at Pulse nightclub, Omar Mateen and his wife, Noor Salman, had a brief conversation, officials said.

"Where are you?" Salman texted her husband.

Mateen responded: "Do you see what's happening?"

"No?" Salman said.

Mateen then responded "I love you, babe."

Reports of the texts exchanged between the couple come as law enforcement officials investigate what, if anything, Salman knew about the planned attack that left 49 victims dead and more than 50 injured. Law enforcement sources have said Salman, 30, also tried to call her husband several times during the standoff, but he didn't answer.

Salman has allegedly given conflicting accounts about what she knew about the shooting. She told investigators Mateen spent thousands of dollars in the weeks leading up to the attacks, including purchasing guns. She said she drove him to the club once because he wanted to see it, law enforcement sources said.

Mateen, 29, opened fire on the club using a Sig Sauer MCX semi-automatic assault-style rifle and a pistol. He was killed in a shootout with police after a nearly three-hour attack and standoff. He pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack, one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history.

The FBI said Salman has been cooperating with the investigation. NBC News reported she has agreed to take a lie-detector test and is hiring an attorney. A federal grand jury has convened to determine if she should face any charges.

The couple, who have a 3-year-old son and lived in Fort Pierce, Fla., married in 2011.