Terror At Orlando Night Club Leaves 50 Dead, 53 Injured
The shooting began around 2 am. It led to a hostage situation and police eventually raided the night club around 5 am, killing the gunman.
I don’t enjoy writing these blogs. I hate it. As the news guy, my goal in covering these is to find and consolidate all important and interesting information and organize it into one blog. I’m not there. Riggs isn’t on the ground interviewing nightclub goers. But I’ll be scouring the internet to find, organize and publish the details related to the incident that you need to see. And I’ll offer — where I can and see necessary — my short commentary on what happened.
Last Update 12:40 PM
Per usual, this terror event is proving that good ALWAYS outweighs evil. That for every one evil scumbag seeking to harm others, there are literally thousands seeking to enact the opposite effect. Just hours after this ordeal took place, hundreds and hundreds of locals have lined up to give blood.
More than 600 people in line to donate blood hours after #Pulse nightclub shooting — via @stevehelling pic.twitter.com/1QM2GxUsUB
— Brett Rosner (@Brosner85) June 12, 2016
Some good: a video of the line to give blood in Orlando right now (taken by my best bud) pic.twitter.com/0jx8JKvm6D
— Ariana Bacle (@iambacle) June 12, 2016
If you’re in the area, here’s where you can go to help.
@calebpressleyxo @FLfishNC @RiggsBarstool pic.twitter.com/TRMhDYDOkG
— Snax (@Dr___Max) June 12, 2016
11:23 AM Update
Orlando authorities: 50 killed in LGBT nightclub terrorist attack
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 12, 2016
UPDATE: 50 dead, 53 wounded.
Now officially worst mass shooting in U.S. history. #orlando— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 12, 2016
For comparison, 32 were killed at the mass-shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, 27 at Sandy Hook in 2012, 14 at San Bernardino in December, 13 at Columbine in 1999, 12 at the Aurora movie theater in 2012.
89 people were killed at the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 13th, part of 130 killed in the city’s numerous attacks that night.
The Orlando news as it has broken:
Shooting at Pulse Nightclub on S Orange. Multiple injuries. Stay away from area. pic.twitter.com/5Di2mc6XUY
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
We can confirm this is a mass casualty situation. Support from local/state/federal agencies. We expect to brief media shortly.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
Orlando mass shooting update from Pulse FB page. pic.twitter.com/a20s0VTrBR
— Erick Weber (@ErickWeber) June 12, 2016
Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
. @ChiefJohnMina officers shot & killed the suspect. In gunfire OPD officer shot: Kevlar helmet saved him pic.twitter.com/L51ynmRAfm
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
Police say approximately 20 dead, at least 42 wounded after gunman opens fire, takes hostages in Orlando club. https://t.co/S7QV9PS06D
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 12, 2016
FBI: There are indications Orlando nightclub shooter may have had "leanings toward" Islamic terrorism. – https://t.co/uzG33o5JaH
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 12, 2016
These casualty numbers would make the #Orlando attack the deadliest terrorist attack on home soil since 9-11
— Jordan DeArmon (@JordanDeArmon) June 12, 2016
Gunman's father tells NBC News: son got angry when he saw 2 men kissing a couple months ago https://t.co/7ZGXOGIwTH pic.twitter.com/QuZLHBATUq
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 12, 2016
Some video footage from the scene:
VIDEO: Gunman starts shooting in Orlando gay club, killing approximately 20 before being killed by police. https://t.co/QFHLQtVvrP
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 12, 2016
"I don’t think anybody really knew what was going on": Orlando shooting witness describes the scenehttps://t.co/Ktbkn65nrz
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 12, 2016
Some chilling insight from a likely victim:
Jesus https://t.co/EilW1UtUJ5 pic.twitter.com/vewLq4qGce
— Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) June 12, 2016
Text messages obtained by @WFTV from Orlando nightclub @PulseOrlando during mass shooting, SWAT standoff. https://t.co/TB1RszOWLW
— Joshua Chavers (@JoshuaChavers) June 12, 2016
And Arnie and Winnie are on lockdown:
As of 8 a.m., Orlando Regional Medical Center, Arnold Palmer and Winnie Palmer remain on lockdown "out of an abundance of caution."
— News 13 (@MyNews13) June 12, 2016
Make no mistake, anyone who storms into a nightclub and starts shooting at folks who are simply enjoying a good time and tossing back a few drinks is a complete and total cowardice piece of shit. He might be called a religious jihadi. He might be called mentally ill. He might be called a lot of things — he is a COMPLETE and TOTAL coward, scumbag, piece of shit.
