Orlando shooter reportedly sought out black victims, told them they weren't his targets

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 15 June 2016

Orlando nightclub shooting victims gave a press conference Tuesday from the hospital, describing the events of the horrific massacre early Sunday morning that left 49 people dead. One hostage, Patience Carter of Philadelphia, was shot alongside many others while hiding in the handicap bathroom stall in the club. While bleeding from wounds sustained in the attack, Carter said that the shooter spoke to the victims directly.

"He said, 'Are there any black people in here?'" Carter said. "I was too afraid to answer. But there was an African-American male in the stall where most of my body was ... who answered. And he said, 'Yes, there are about six or seven of us.' And the gunman responded back to him saying that, 'You know, I don't have a problem with black people. This is about my country. You guys [have] suffered enough."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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