EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking AboutFrom a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
MajorsJun 21, 2016
Signet ‘Working with Authorities’ in Mateen Case
The perpetrator of the nightclub shooting in Orlando that left 49 dead reportedly spent $9,000 at a Kay Jewelers store days before the crime.
Omar Mateen, the perpetrator of the Orlando, Fla. shooting that left 49 dead, reportedly spent $9,000 at a Kay Jewelers store days before his crime.
Orlando--Omar Mateen reportedly purchased nearly $9,000 worth of jewelry at a Kay Jewelers store in Jensen Beach, Fla. on June 6, a week before he killed 49 people and injured 53 at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando.
CNN reported that according to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation, Mateen purchased an expensive piece of jewelry for his wife at the store. The Kay Jewelers is located near Lotus Gunworks, the gun store where Mateen allegedly tried to purchase body armor and bulk ammunition five or six weeks before the shooting but was turned away by employees because of his suspicious behavior.
While Kay parent company Signet Jewelers would not confirm the purchase, the company did say it is cooperating in the investigation and offered this statement: “Signet was shocked and deeply saddened by the violent acts against the LGBT community. We join all Americans in mourning and are working closely with the authorities. We will do everything possible to support them.”
Kay Jewelers has been in the headlines continually over the past few weeks.
Prior to Pulse, Signet was all over the news after reports of systematic diamonds swapping at its stores swept social media, claims the chain fervently denies.
On Monday, the company confirmed that CEO Mark Light personally visited one of the customers who experienced alleged stone-swapping at Kay Jewelers.
When asked about reports that Kay Jewelers was now offering discounts in the wake of the stone-swapping scandal, Signet said that existing promotions had been previously planned but added that there are “some incremental promotions to make them even stronger.”
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