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."
-
Sepsis ‘breakthrough’: the world’s first targeted treatment?The Explainer New drug could reverse effects of sepsis, rather than trying to treat infection with antibiotics
-
James Van Der Beek obituary: fresh-faced Dawson’s Creek starIn The Spotlight Van Der Beek fronted one of the most successful teen dramas of the 90s – but his Dawson fame proved a double-edged sword
-
Is Andrew’s arrest the end for the monarchy?Today's Big Question The King has distanced the royal family from his disgraced brother but critics claim a ‘fit of revolutionary disgust’ could still wipe them out
-
How the ‘British FBI’ will workThe Explainer New National Police Service to focus on fighting terrorism, fraud and organised crime, freeing up local forces to tackle everyday offences
-
How the Bondi massacre unfoldedIn Depth Deadly terrorist attack during Hanukkah celebration in Sydney prompts review of Australia’s gun control laws and reckoning over global rise in antisemitism
-
Who is fuelling the flames of antisemitism in Australia?Today’s Big Question Deadly Bondi Beach attack the result of ‘permissive environment’ where warning signs were ‘too often left unchecked’
-
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
