Orlando’s Mass Shooting the Deadliest in U.S. History; Leaves 50 people Dead, 53 more Injured

Featured Photo by Steve Nesius/Reuters

The U.S. is still mourning the lives lost over the weekend in the country’s deadliest mass shooting in Orlando.

It all happened early Sunday morning at The Pulse, a popular gay club in Orlando.

The club is known as a hub for the city’s LGBTQ community, and Saturday night was no exception. Latin Night was packed when gunman Omar Mateen stormed in taking dozens of hostages and killing dozens more. At least 50 people were killed, including the 29-year-old shooter, and 53 were injured.

Approximately 320 people were inside the venue at the time of the incident.

The FBI told ABC News that Mateen “was organized and well-prepared.” Officials say the shooter was from Lucie County, Florida, a U.S.-born citizen with Afghani parents. He reportedly called 911 after the shooting began to pledge his allegiance to ISIS.

During a news conference Sunday morning, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said “this can be classified as a domestic terror incident.” He added that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting as “an act of terrorism.”

President Obama addressed the situation soon after an called the Pulse massacre “an act of terror and an act of hate.” He called the shooter a “person filled with hatred.” He then said, “we’re going to do everything we can do to help bring the community together.”

The shooting happened during Pride month, a celebration of the LGBTQ community.

Mateen’s ex-wife later came to light, sharing with The Washington Post, that the man “was not a stable person” and that he would repeatedly hit her during their marriage. She requested to remain anonymous out of fear for her own safety.

Since the incident, local blood banks in Orlando have been hit with an outpour of support from volunteers and donors. Two GoFundMe pages have also been set by two prominent local LGBT organizations, Equality Florida and The Center Orlando. The former has already raised more than $1.6 million dollars.