At least 50 people have been killed and 53 injured the morning of June 12 in an Orlando, Florida, nightclub in what has become the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
Around 4:50 a.m., Orlando police responded to a shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier, around 2 a.m., Pulse Orlando posted “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running” on its Facebook page.
Numerous media outlets including the Washington Post and New York Times have reported the gunman called 911 before his death to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
The shooter, later identified as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, by United States Rep. Alan Grayson D-Florida, was armed with an assault-type rifle, a handgun and some kind of “suspicious” device, according to the AP. He was active inside the club for around three hours and took several hostages before a SWAT team entered the building. The shooter died in a gunfight with these officers.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the shooter used an assault rifle to kill all victims, according to the AP.
“There’s blood everywhere,” he said in a Sunday news conference. At the time, the death toll had risen to 50.
Dr. Mike Cheatham, a trauma surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center, reported the majority of victims taken to his hospital were in critical condition. As of 11 a.m. Sunday, he said he predicted a rise in the death toll.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced they’re investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. Mateen’s father, Mir Seddique, told the AP he was shocked his son had carried out such an act, but admitted his son had gotten angry when he saw two men kissing in Miami months ago.
“We are in shock like the whole country,” Seddique said, also noting the incident had “nothing to do with religion.”
June is LGBT Pride Month, and several parades have taken place this weekend.
Indianapolis’ pride celebration was June 11, and Indy Pride organizers released a statement Sunday mourning the loss of LGBT+ lives.
“These are the lives of our brothers and sisters,” the statement read. “These are the lives of people who were likely celebrating like us last night. These are the lives that show us that our journey as a community is far from finished.”
According to the AP, law enforcement officials were “beefing up” security for a pride festival in Washington, D.C., and festival organizers announced there would be a moment of silence for the Orlando victims at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The L.A. Pride festival in West Hollywood also ran into some roadblocks, according to the L.A. Times. Officers in Santa Monica reportedly found what could be explosives, as well as assault rifles and copious amount of ammunition, in a car stopped near Olympic Boulevard and 11th Street.
The man was arrested, according to the L.A. Times. His car had Indiana license plates.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Sunday afternoon at a press conference the Orlando massacre was “clearly an act of terror. To take that number of lives is clearly an act of terror.”
Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both weighed in on the issue Sunday via Twitter.
“Woke up to hear the devastating news from FL,” Clinton tweeted. “As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act.”
Trump also called the incident “horrific.”
“Prawwying for all the victims and their families,” he wrote. “When will this stop?” He followed the message with another tweet: “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!”
President Obama delivered an address to the American people Sunday afternoon, as well, in his 15th press conference following a mass shooting during his presidency.
He confirmed the violence in Orlando is being investigated as an act of terror, though it’s still early in the investigation.
“What is clear is that he was filled with hatred,” he said of Mateen.
He stressed the fact this was another example of the ease with which people can obtain guns to shoot people at schools, places of worship, movie theaters or nightclubs.
“We have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be,” he said. A representative before he took the podium mentioned that thoughts and prayers were no longer enough to stop the gun epidemic.
“To actively do nothing is also a decision,” Obama said. He ended his address on a hopeful note.
“In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another.”
