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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Orlando massacre: relatives and friends react to shooting | Orlando massacre: relatives and friends react to shooting |
| (2 months later) | |
| As families await news of their friends and relatives after the massacre shooting at Pulse nightclub, many have spoken of the horror that surrounded the night’s carnage. | As families await news of their friends and relatives after the massacre shooting at Pulse nightclub, many have spoken of the horror that surrounded the night’s carnage. |
| Mina Justice told the Associated Press that her 30-year-old son Eddie, who was in the club when the attack took place, texted her asking her to call the police. Justice said he had run into a bathroom to hide. He then texted her: “He’s coming.” | Mina Justice told the Associated Press that her 30-year-old son Eddie, who was in the club when the attack took place, texted her asking her to call the police. Justice said he had run into a bathroom to hide. He then texted her: “He’s coming.” |
| The next text said: “He has us, and he’s in here with us,” she said. “That was the last conversation.” | The next text said: “He has us, and he’s in here with us,” she said. “That was the last conversation.” |
| Helene Royster told the Orlando Sentinel that her son had arrived from New York for a visit on Friday. He was on the patio of Pulse having a drink when he heard gunshots. He jumped over the wall, but two of his friends had gone inside to pay the bill, she said. One was shot three times and is at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). The other one is still missing. | Helene Royster told the Orlando Sentinel that her son had arrived from New York for a visit on Friday. He was on the patio of Pulse having a drink when he heard gunshots. He jumped over the wall, but two of his friends had gone inside to pay the bill, she said. One was shot three times and is at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). The other one is still missing. |
| She said her son called her about 2.30 am: “He was crying and screaming and said: ‘Mom, there’s dead bodies’. I didn’t know what to think. So I jumped up in the car with my husband. I’ve been just out here trying to comfort people.” | She said her son called her about 2.30 am: “He was crying and screaming and said: ‘Mom, there’s dead bodies’. I didn’t know what to think. So I jumped up in the car with my husband. I’ve been just out here trying to comfort people.” |
| Greg Royster, Helene’s other son who had not been at Pulse, said: “He had just come from New York and I said if you go out, just don’t go to any clubs. I said lately Orlando has just been crazy,.” | Greg Royster, Helene’s other son who had not been at Pulse, said: “He had just come from New York and I said if you go out, just don’t go to any clubs. I said lately Orlando has just been crazy,.” |
| Jillian Amador, who was discharged from hospital after being cut by flying glass during the attack, said she heard shots and people started running. “People were trampling all over each other,” she told the Sentinel. “I feel terrible. I have anxiety. I’m scared. I don’t wanna go out.” | Jillian Amador, who was discharged from hospital after being cut by flying glass during the attack, said she heard shots and people started running. “People were trampling all over each other,” she told the Sentinel. “I feel terrible. I have anxiety. I’m scared. I don’t wanna go out.” |
| Rev Nancy Oliver of he Cathedral Church of Saint Luke was at the ORMC entrance trying to comfort families. She said: “I ordered coffee and some cases of water to come out here for people who are standing here. I’ve prayed with a few people. I’ve listened to stories. That’s all you can do right now. Just be here. | Rev Nancy Oliver of he Cathedral Church of Saint Luke was at the ORMC entrance trying to comfort families. She said: “I ordered coffee and some cases of water to come out here for people who are standing here. I’ve prayed with a few people. I’ve listened to stories. That’s all you can do right now. Just be here. |
| “I tend to think that the world is good. But when you get into a situation like this you go what is going on. Lives have changed. It’s a ripple effect. This is not going to be easy to get through for a lot of people.” | “I tend to think that the world is good. But when you get into a situation like this you go what is going on. Lives have changed. It’s a ripple effect. This is not going to be easy to get through for a lot of people.” |
| On his Facebook page, Anthony Torres wrote: “It just hit me that I could have lost my sister Maria Torres my BF Alfredo Chavarria, Daisy Ivy Carballo, Dana Weigle Cole and Joey Kijo. We were sitting in the VIP section right by the entrance. We decided to get up and leave. Not even a few seconds later is when it all started. People were screaming and running looking for their loved ones along with seeing injured people sitting on the floor. It was so surreal, it seemed fake. This had to be planned. We were lucky to walk away from this, but my condolences to the friends and family who lost their loved ones tonight and for everyone that has been injured tonight; I’m praying for you all.” | On his Facebook page, Anthony Torres wrote: “It just hit me that I could have lost my sister Maria Torres my BF Alfredo Chavarria, Daisy Ivy Carballo, Dana Weigle Cole and Joey Kijo. We were sitting in the VIP section right by the entrance. We decided to get up and leave. Not even a few seconds later is when it all started. People were screaming and running looking for their loved ones along with seeing injured people sitting on the floor. It was so surreal, it seemed fake. This had to be planned. We were lucky to walk away from this, but my condolences to the friends and family who lost their loved ones tonight and for everyone that has been injured tonight; I’m praying for you all.” |