At least 50 people were killed and dozens wounded after 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire in Orlando LGBT nightclub Pulse on Sunday. The lone gunman's attack is the deadliest shooting in US history.
Survivors told how revellers had crawled through the club's air conditioning vent to escape, while details have been emerging about those who didn't manage to flee.
One man who died has been named as Stanley Almodovar III. The 23-year-old pharmacy technician was "an amazing person with a good soul", his aunt told the Orlando Sentinel.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His mother, Rosalie Ramos, revealed she had prepared a snack for her son to eat when he came home and had gone to bed, only to be awakened at 2am by a frantic phone call about the massacre.
Also among the dead is Kimberley "KJ" Morris, the club's bouncer who is said to have loved her job. The 37-year-old moved from Hawaii to Orlando to be closer to her family.
A friend said that Morris was "the sweetest person", adding: "I can't think of a time when I did not see a smile on her face."
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, the youngest victim to be named so far, worked as a cashier and barista at a superstore 20 miles outside of Orlando. Colleague Claudia Mason paid tribute to him on Facebook, saying he "lit up any area he worked in".
Another victim, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, sent chilling texts to his terrified mother from the bathroom of Pulse, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Just after 2am, Mina Justice awoke to a message from her 30-year-old son which read: "Mommy I love you", followed by: "In club they shooting".
He then begged her to call the police, before sending a final text: "I'm gonna die."
-
5 treacherously funny cartoons about seditious behaviourCartoons Artists take on branches of government, a CAPTCHA test, and more
-
Political cartoons for November 29Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include Kash Patel's travel perks, believing in Congress, and more
-
Nigel Farage: was he a teenage racist?Talking Point Farage’s denials have been ‘slippery’, but should claims from Reform leader’s schooldays be on the news agenda?
-
Ten years after Bataclan: how has France changed?Today's Big Question ‘Act of war’ by Islamist terrorists was a ‘shockingly direct challenge’ to Western morality
-
Arsonist who attacked Shapiro gets 25-50 yearsSpeed Read Cody Balmer broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion and tried to burn it down
-
Manchester synagogue attack: what do we know?Today’s Big Question Two dead after car and stabbing attack on holiest day in Jewish year
-
The Miami Showband massacre, 50 years onThe Explainer Unanswered questions remain over Troubles terror attack that killed three members of one of Ireland's most popular music acts
-
The failed bombings of 21/7The Explainer The unsuccessful attacks 'unnerved' London and led to a tragic mistake
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attackSpeed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
How should we define extremism and terrorism?Today's Big Question The government has faced calls to expand the definition of terrorism in the wake of Southport murders
