ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has told the gay community "we stand with you" and insisted that investigators are continuing to follow leads on the gunman and mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub.
She made the comments at a news conference Tuesday in Orlando, where she traveled to meet with prosecutors, first responders and victims of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Lynch announced $1 million in federal emergency funding to help Florida, Orange County and Orlando pay for overtime and other investigative costs.
She praised the community that has united in the face of tragedy.
"There is no doubt that this was a shattering attack - on our nation, on our people and on our most fundamental ideals. But the message of Orlando goes far beyond one night of unspeakable terror. The message of Orlando that I have seen today - and what the American people have seen in the wake of this horrific assault - is a message of determination to remove hatred and intolerance from our midst; to live our lives freely and without fear; and to stay true to the principles of liberty, justice and equality that define America at our best. And I'm deeply proud of the way that the federal, state and local law enforcement officers and first responders here have gone above and beyond the call of duty. And I am so inspired by the strength and the resilience of the survivors and their loved ones. And I am deeply moved by the way that this community - and our national community - has stood together in support of one another, in defiance of terror and in defense of our most cherished ideals. And let us be clear: those ideals include the understanding that our diversity makes us stronger - and that no matter who we are, what we look like, where we come from, or whom we love, this extraordinary nation belongs to us all," Lynch said.
She said investigators will "go back ... and see if there's anything we could have missed or anything we could have done better" in terms of spotting gunman Omar Mateen as a threat.
She wouldn't give specifics about the investigation or a possible motive. She said "people often act out of more than one motivation" and called the June 12 massacre at the gay club "clearly an act of terror and an act of hate." She added that a motive may never be known.
“We do feel as we build a timeline and build his life, we will be able to figure out why. I can't say we will be able to narrow it down to one motivation. Sometimes, more than one. This appears to be an act of terror and hate,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.