Omar Mateen's wife faced problems studying in middle school, so she signed up for special education classes, says Susan, her retired teacher in California.
Noor Zahi Salman, Mateen's second wife, was taught by Susan in middle school in Crockett, California. Omar Mateen and Noor Salman, 30, got married in September 2011 after an online meeting.
"Noor had difficulty with retention, she had difficulty with conceptualizing, understanding, all challenges to her," Susan said. "She tried hard. She was very sweet."
Noor Salman was classified as a "special day class student", which meant that she had to subject herself to special education teachers, as she needed extra help in her classes. She added that Noor cannot comprehend "cause and effect." Salman was part of special education classes as she required more help in school.
Noor Salman's family has put out a rare statement strengthening their claim that she was a "special education student"
"Noor is completely innocent and [was] unaware of the attacks," the statement said.
FBI said she might face charges after accusations that she knew about the shooting and was with Mateen when he bought the guns.
Right now, Salman is being examined by the FBI for having possible links to her husband's killing of 49 at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando last weekend.
The only thing Noor Zahi Salman did to prevent the worst gun massacre in US history was trying to talk her husband out of it, FBI sources said.
She has admitted that she had been with Mateen, 29, when he bought ammunition and holster. She said she also drove him to Pulse nightclub as well as other areas, including Walt Disney World, "because he wanted to scope them out".
They all dropped into Disney World in order to examine the area before the gunman finally chose Pulse for the attack, said the law enforcement sources.
However, it has also been revealed that Salman never tried to contact officials regarding the impending terror attack, although she claims that she tried to dissuade him from carrying out his actions.