Former owners of Pulse nightclub do not face criminal charges

ORLANDO, Fla. – Former Pulse nightclub owners Barbara and Rosario Poma will not be charged with manslaughter following a year-long investigation by Orlando police.

That investigation began last year when police received written statements accusing Pulse’s owners of criminal conduct in connection with the shooting.

These allegations can be reduced to five key points:

• The unavailability of construction plans for first responders
• Unauthorized modifications and alterations
• A history of occupancy violations
• Violation of conditional use permits
• Other general failures in safety and risk management

Investigators’ documents show that “the Pomas could not reasonably have foreseen or anticipated a terrorist attack at Pulse.”

The complainants believe that the Pomas operated their nightclub illegally and made illegal business decisions that put lives at risk.

Christine Leinonen, whose son Chris was among the 49 people killed in the 2016 Pulse Stadium attack, said she was outraged by the decision because she believes the owners should be held accountable.

“My son died on a dance floor. That is a fact,” Leinonen said. “If the business owner had followed the rules designed to ensure the safety of guests, there would not have been so many deaths and injuries in the event of a panic.”

The full Orlando Police Department investigation report can be found below: