Shooter at Pulse nightclub in Orlando is dead after shooting 40 plus young people

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The shooter in the club is dead, Orlando police just tweeted. Orlando police added that support from local/state/federal agencies is ongoing, and police are calling this a mass casualty situation.

The shooter in the club is dead, Orlando police just tweeted. Orlando police added that support from local/state/federal agencies is ongoing, and police are calling this a mass casualty situation.

At least 40 young people have been shot at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Among the victims are many visitors from out of state or overseas, and people who recently moved to Orlando. Many gunshots were heard. Latest unconfirmed reports increased the number of people shot to 40 and more.

It’s not known why police conducted a controlled explosion in the area.

The situation is still developing. There is an ongoing hostage situation. Tweets from within the popular club begged for help.

It was supposed to be a fun Saturday night at Pulse night club, a popular party place for LGBT. Tourists love to hang out here, and so do locals. Saturday night is the big night. This Saturday it was Latino night – this is a big night. For some this developed into a night of horror, injury or possible death. Unconfirmed tweets talk about 7 dead.
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Pulse earlier on Saturday night posted to their Facebook: Calling all our Latinos, Latinas & everyone that loves a little Latin flavor! It’s time to party tonight! Here’s a little something to play while getting sexy tonight! #Pulesorlando

This was very different when hours later pulse posted: “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running”

OfficerAlbert Harris recalled: “Shooting….all available units that were nearby no matter what jurisdiction went to assist they all went code 3 (lights and sirens) rushing towards pulse. My windows were down when I drove by I heard multiple gunshots. This is super sad because there was a shooting the night before at a different venue.”

Ricardo J. Negron Almodovar posted to his Facebook: “I was there. Shooter opened fire around 2:00am. People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed to go out through the outdoor area and just ran. I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well :(”

Martha Bonilla said: “Sadly my cousin was in their and has been shot I pray he makes it praying for him.. For those that made it out I’m happy that you are all ok.. My thoughts and prayers are with all of u”

Lilbia Carmen posted: Nothing yet. My daughter is in there. Please keep praying for them… She’s waiting for cops to be able to come out. I was on the fone and all i hear is shot guns.”

This post to Pulse’s facebook summarizes it all:
here was a shooter with an assault rifle who shot up the people in the club sometime around 2am. The club is reported to have been at full capacity. The shooter has himself barricaded inside Pulse with multiple hostages. This is per a private source. Initial assessment and estimate was at least 20 red tagged patients per OFD. They are prepared to take 20 trauma alerts at ORMC. Yellow and green tag patients will be welcome at florida hospital east. Florida hospital orlando has taken on two red tags so far. They have reached out to seminole fire and rescue and placed their units on standby. Orlando sounds like they are charge. They just made ballistic vests available to the fire and ems first responders in the red zone. The walking wounded are walking to a treatment area behind Einstein bagels. All that info is from a police scanner. And being updated as it happens.

3:23. Active fired shots outside ORMC.
3:24. The shooter at ORMC is inside the hospital. They can no longer take any pts. The shooter is locked inside ORMC.
3:27 three MORE trauma alerts
3:28 ORMC is no longer on lockdown. They are requested ONLY trauma alerts now. No walking wounded will be there. ONLY trauma alerts.
3:34 they reached 250 patients.
3:39 i think they just said they have transported all patients and are waiting to hear from the interior of the structure
3:50 they are having to pull OPD to a large gathering at Columbia. Everyone get back in your houses. Go home. You are pulling resources for selfish reasons.
3:56 they requested one more transport. So they have one more patient. It has really slowed down though. They just told someone to stage.
4:19 they are being told they are expecting more patients who might be coming out right now.
4:23 there are 8 patients coming out
4:24 they are not tagged yet. They just know they have 8 patients walking out to the treatment area.
5:16 gunfire!
5:18 officer injury
5:19 new victim at treatment
5:20 trauma alert with RMA to ORMC AND OPD is transporting one of their own to ORMC not waiting on transport

It appears they are just staging now waiting for the interior of the building to be cleared. I believe the shooter may still be inside but i have no idea.

Praying for all of the victims.

Especially praying for my brothers and sisters working this tragedy as the first responders as well as all of my ER nurses, medics, hospital security and everyone else. Please stay safe. I love you all. Orlando and Orange county and rural metro along with all of you in dispatch…. you were very organized and it was a smooth MCI. I am very impressed on how you have handled this, tonight. Have to get some sleep so i can join you tomorrow on shift.

A sign of release followed Lilbia’s next post when saying:

“She’s out. Thanks so much for your prayers towards my princess and myself! My life is back!!! Thank you God for hearing our prayers!”

More tweets are coming in voicing frustration:
All this violence in orlando, but will america change their gun laws? no. #PrayForOrlando

I can’t even imagine how scary this is for people who live in Orlando. I would be petrified to leave my house.



About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

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