At least 49 people have been killed and another 53 injured in a mass shooting attack on an Orlando gay nightclub.
Omar Mateen, 29, entered the club and bar after 2am on Sunday and after initial gunfire, he took people hostage for three hours before a SWAT team entered and shot him dead.
He was armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, a handgun, and a device police originally feared was a bomb. The city of Orlando has declared a state of emergency.
Who are the victims?
The City of Orlando is publishing the names of the dead on its website.
"On this very difficult day, we offer heartfelt condolences to today’s victims and their families
"Our City is working tirelessly to get as much information out to the families so they can begin the grieving process. Please keep the following individuals in your thoughts and prayers. #PrayforOrlando."
- Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
- Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
- Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
- Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
- Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
- Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
- Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
- Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
- Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
- Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
- Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
- Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
- Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
- Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
- Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
- Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
- Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
- Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
- Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
- Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
- Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
- Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
- Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
- Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
- Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
- Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
- Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
- Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
- Cory James Connell, 21 years old
- Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
- Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
- Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
- Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
- Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
- Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
- Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
- Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
- Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
- Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
- Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
- Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24 years old
- Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
- Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
- Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
- Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
- Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
- Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
- Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Stanley Almodovar III
Stanley Almodovar III, a pharmacy technician, was spending his night like many of his contemporaries, laughing, singing and posting videos on Snapchat, the picture messaging app.
But a few hours later he would become one of 50 people killed by Omar Mateen in a cruel act of hate.
His mother, Rosalie Ramos, spoke to Orlando Sentinel about her happy son with a big heart. She said he often obsessed with his hair and had dyed it on Saturday night.
Meanwhile his aunt Yoly, described him a boy with a promising future; "an amazing person with a good soul".
According to report, the man who would be 24 next month, came out of the bathroom as bullets were flying and he shoved people out of harm's way, his aunt said.
His mother described how she was to quickly come to the club. "I was hoping maybe [he was shot in] the hand or the leg," she said. "You can survive [a gunshot to] the leg."
His mother said her son studied at Anthem College so he could work in a pharmacy.
Edward Sotomayor Jr
Sotomayor was national brand manager at ALandChuck.Travel, a gay travel agency, his LinkedIn page says.
He lived in Sarasota, Florida, according to his Facebook page.
Friends paid tribute to him across social media with one who wrote on Twitter: "So sad my heart is broken".
"Edward Sotomayor (pic), one of the funniest & nicest guy, he lived in Sarasota" said Nate Carrick, victim's friend, reported WFTV Eyewitness News on Twitter.
His cousin, David Sotomayor, told the Associated Press that his relative was a caring, energetic man known for wearing a silly top hat on cruises. He said the two had found out they were related after meeting at Orlando's annual Gay Days festival around a decade ago.
"He was just always part of the fun," the cousin said, who is a drag queen who appeared on reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race using the name, Jade.
"You never think that's going to be the last time you speak to him," Mr Sotomayor said as he told the news agency they spoke late last week. "It's just heartbreaking to know it just can happen anytime."
Luis S Vielma
Vielma, another victim, had worked as a production assistant on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Orlando according to his Facebook page and had studied at Seminole State College of Florida.
“He really loved to dance,” said JoAnn Sofinowski, 53, a wealth manager for Bank of America and family friend, who considered Luis and his siblings like her own children.
“And can he get down and dance – yes he can,” she added with a smile, still using the present tense.
“He would dance with all the little kids at parties. He just loved it.”
At 5pm on Sunday she received a text message from Kimberley, at 16 the youngest of the three siblings, confirming their worst fears. She was in Mexico with her mother, Tina, a restaurant worker, preparing for celebrations to mark her birthday. Her father and brother Brian, 19, were at the Orlando hotel which served as a gathering point for the families, and had been given the news.
Laura, a close family friend who knew the Vielmas well, remains in hospital, fighting for her life after a series of major surgeries.
“This senseless, timeless act occurred,” she said. “It happened at a LGBT venue, but Luis wasn’t gay. It didn’t matter. They went to dance and enjoy the music.
She told how Luis, born in Florida, lived to play football. The Mexican national team was his passion. He regularly played tricks on his brother, who he loved dearly.
“As a Harry Potter nut, he was so happy to have that job,” she said.
“He just enjoyed life. Everything he did, he did with joy. Even putting out chairs for a community event – he did it with joy.”
His friend, Eddi Anderson, who had been searching for information about his friend earlier on Sunday, described him as "one of the most genuine and kind hearted people I've ever met".
Will Randle, who was another friend and colleague, described how "everyone's day would brighten up whenever you came in. I don't care if it was an early opening, or a late event. Working with you was extraordinary".
J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author, shared a picture of Vielma in a Hogwarts school tie on Twitter, and said: "I can't stop crying."
Josh Boesch, who worked with Vielma at Universal, told the Orlando Sentinel: "He was always a friend you could call. He was always open and available."
It took until 11pm on Sunday night for all of the bodies to be removed from the club, meaning many of the families of the dead had to wait 24 hours before they were told the terrible news after police had identified their loved ones.
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice
30-year-old Eddie Justice sent a series of terrified text messages to his mother after he found himself trapped in the Pulse nightclub with the gunman.
Mina Justice, his mother, was sound asleep when she received the first text.
Here is the conversation she had over text message with her 30-year-old son.
"Mommy I love you," the first message said. It was 2:06 a.m.
"In club they shooting."
Mina Justice tried calling her 30-year-old son. No answer.
Alarmed and half awake, she tapped out a response.
"U ok"
At 2:07 a.m., he wrote: "Trapp in bathroom."
Justice asked what club, and he responded: "Pulse. Downtown. Call police."
Then at 2:08: "I'm gonna die."
The City of Florida broke the news of his death in a post on its website earlier this morning.
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo wanted to be a star. The 20-year-old dancer was working at Starbucks inside a Kissimmee Target store while studying theatre, and would have auditioned on Tuesday for a play, said his sister, Belinette Ocasio-Capo.
"He was one of the most amazing dancers," she said. "He would always call me and say, 'I'm going to be the next Hollywood star.' He really did want to make it and be known.
"Now his name ended up being all around the world, like he wanted - just not this way."
Omar, as he was known to family and friends, seemed brash to 70-year-old Claudia Mason, who worked with him at Starbucks. But after getting to know her much younger co-worker, "I realized he had a very outgoing personality," said Mason. "His sense of humor was definitely his defining personality trait."
Ocasio-Capo was hired as a cashier before moving over to the Starbucks, and became a great barista, Mason said.
"Omar got along with everyone. Young, old, male, female, gay, or straight, it didn't matter to Omar," she said.
This is a very saddening story and i pray that their soul rest in peace.
if you wish to read more about the people that died during the weekend in Orlando you can continue on Telegraph website here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/12/orlando-nightclub-shooting-victims-what-we-know-so-far/
Source : Telegraph
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