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| Orlando victims: travel agent, brand manager and technician among dead | Orlando victims: travel agent, brand manager and technician among dead |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Victims of the worst mass shooting in American history included a toy store brand manager, a man described as a “kind but sassy friend”, and a traveler who refused to live in fear as he encouraged others to explore. | Victims of the worst mass shooting in American history included a toy store brand manager, a man described as a “kind but sassy friend”, and a traveler who refused to live in fear as he encouraged others to explore. |
| In Orlando, Florida, a gunman shot and killed 50 people and injured at least 53 more inside the gay nightclub Pulse around 2am Sunday. By the following evening, hundreds of family members and friends had gathered in downtown hotels and hospitals to wait to know whether their loved ones were among the living or dead. | In Orlando, Florida, a gunman shot and killed 50 people and injured at least 53 more inside the gay nightclub Pulse around 2am Sunday. By the following evening, hundreds of family members and friends had gathered in downtown hotels and hospitals to wait to know whether their loved ones were among the living or dead. |
| Related: Orlando shooting: relatives of those missing wait for news – live | Related: Orlando shooting: relatives of those missing wait for news – live |
| At least one state police officer, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak with the media, told The Guardian he believed it would take at least several more days to identify all of the victims of the shooting. | At least one state police officer, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak with the media, told The Guardian he believed it would take at least several more days to identify all of the victims of the shooting. |
| Among those confirmed dead were young men and women who had just begun careers, moved to Florida to push forward in careers, or established themselves in the city known for international travel, theme parks and vacations. | Among those confirmed dead were young men and women who had just begun careers, moved to Florida to push forward in careers, or established themselves in the city known for international travel, theme parks and vacations. |
| Edward Sotomayor | Edward Sotomayor |
| “He was super bright,” said Al Ferguson, owner of the Al and Chuck Travel, an agency focused on booking vacations for gay men, about his former employee, Sotomayor, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The 34-year-old worked as a brand manager, and had invited Ferguson to come to the club that evening, the newspaper reported. | “He was super bright,” said Al Ferguson, owner of the Al and Chuck Travel, an agency focused on booking vacations for gay men, about his former employee, Sotomayor, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The 34-year-old worked as a brand manager, and had invited Ferguson to come to the club that evening, the newspaper reported. |
| Related: 'He's coming. I'm gonna die': son's text to mother reveals Orlando shooting terror | Related: 'He's coming. I'm gonna die': son's text to mother reveals Orlando shooting terror |
| Ferguson told the Sentinel that Sotomayor, knowing the perils that gay, lesbian and transgender travelers could face because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, didn’t shy away from exploring. | Ferguson told the Sentinel that Sotomayor, knowing the perils that gay, lesbian and transgender travelers could face because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, didn’t shy away from exploring. |
| “What I will say, over and over again, was he was a person who said, ‘We cannot be afraid,’” Ferguson told the Sentinel. “I know his friends are going to be the exact same way … We are not going to be afraid.” | “What I will say, over and over again, was he was a person who said, ‘We cannot be afraid,’” Ferguson told the Sentinel. “I know his friends are going to be the exact same way … We are not going to be afraid.” |
| Juan Ramon Guerrero | Juan Ramon Guerrero |
| Guerrero, 22, had only told his family he was gay before the New Year, his cousin told the Associated Press. | Guerrero, 22, had only told his family he was gay before the New Year, his cousin told the Associated Press. |
| “He was never the type to go out to parties, would rather stay home and care for his niece and nephew,” his cousin Robert Guerrero said. | “He was never the type to go out to parties, would rather stay home and care for his niece and nephew,” his cousin Robert Guerrero said. |
| He said Juan Ramon Guerrero was a telemarketer, and recently began attending school at the University of Central Florida. “He was always this amazing person ... he was like a big brother to me.” | He said Juan Ramon Guerrero was a telemarketer, and recently began attending school at the University of Central Florida. “He was always this amazing person ... he was like a big brother to me.” |
| On Sunday morning, after learning that so many people had died the nightclub that his cousin had gone to once in a while, Robert Guerrero started to become concerned. Later in the day, his fears were realised when the family learned that Guerrero was identified as one of the victims. | On Sunday morning, after learning that so many people had died the nightclub that his cousin had gone to once in a while, Robert Guerrero started to become concerned. Later in the day, his fears were realised when the family learned that Guerrero was identified as one of the victims. |
| Stanley Almodovar | Stanley Almodovar |
| Almodovar, 23, who worked as a pharmacy technician, was described as “kind but sassy,” by a friend, Ivelisse Santiago, according to the Washington Post. She said he defended her when she fell down dancing at a club. “He was so proud of who he was,” she told the newspaper. | Almodovar, 23, who worked as a pharmacy technician, was described as “kind but sassy,” by a friend, Ivelisse Santiago, according to the Washington Post. She said he defended her when she fell down dancing at a club. “He was so proud of who he was,” she told the newspaper. |
| Almodovar’s mother, Rosalie Ramos, was awakened by a call at 2am on Sunday telling her something had happened. She told the Sentinel her son posted a Snapchat video of himself singing and laughing on his way to Pulse nightclub. | Almodovar’s mother, Rosalie Ramos, was awakened by a call at 2am on Sunday telling her something had happened. She told the Sentinel her son posted a Snapchat video of himself singing and laughing on his way to Pulse nightclub. |
| “I wish I had that (video) to remember him forever,” she told the newspaper. | “I wish I had that (video) to remember him forever,” she told the newspaper. |
| Eric Ortiz-Rivera | Eric Ortiz-Rivera |
| Eric Ortiz-Rivera, 36, a merchandiser for Toys “R” Us, was said to have moved to Florida from Puerto Rico to start a career. | Eric Ortiz-Rivera, 36, a merchandiser for Toys “R” Us, was said to have moved to Florida from Puerto Rico to start a career. |
| “Eric was always willing to help everybody,” Abismel Colon Comez, his Orlando roommate told the Sentinel. “He sacrificed himself a lot for his family… He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.” | “Eric was always willing to help everybody,” Abismel Colon Comez, his Orlando roommate told the Sentinel. “He sacrificed himself a lot for his family… He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.” |
| Luis S Vielma | Luis S Vielma |
| Vielma, 22, reportedly lived in nearby Sanford, Florida. He worked on the Harry Potter ride at the Universal theme park, according to JK Rowling. | Vielma, 22, reportedly lived in nearby Sanford, Florida. He worked on the Harry Potter ride at the Universal theme park, according to JK Rowling. |
| His Facebook profile showed him pictured with others at Disney World, with the caption: “True friends who become family.” | His Facebook profile showed him pictured with others at Disney World, with the caption: “True friends who become family.” |
| High school friend Eddi Anderson told the Tampa Bay Times that Vielma was known for his pleasant attitude and warm demeanour. | High school friend Eddi Anderson told the Tampa Bay Times that Vielma was known for his pleasant attitude and warm demeanour. |
| Josh Boesch, who worked with Vielma at Universal, told the Orlando Sentinel: “He was always a friend you could call. He was always open and available.” | Josh Boesch, who worked with Vielma at Universal, told the Orlando Sentinel: “He was always a friend you could call. He was always open and available.” |
| Vielma “just wanted to make people smile,” another co-worker, Olga Glomba, said. | Vielma “just wanted to make people smile,” another co-worker, Olga Glomba, said. |
| Kimberly Morris | Kimberly Morris |
| Morris, 37, moved to Orlando just months ago and had taken a job at Pulse nightclub as a bouncer, the Orlando Sentinel reported. | Morris, 37, moved to Orlando just months ago and had taken a job at Pulse nightclub as a bouncer, the Orlando Sentinel reported. |
| “She was so excited,” ex-girlfriend Starr Shelton told the newspaper. “She’d just started working there and told me how she was thrilled to get more involved in the LGBT community there.” | “She was so excited,” ex-girlfriend Starr Shelton told the newspaper. “She’d just started working there and told me how she was thrilled to get more involved in the LGBT community there.” |
| Friends described Morris as a kind, sweet person. | Friends described Morris as a kind, sweet person. |
| Narvell Benning met Morris when they were in college at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, where Benning said they both played basketball. | Narvell Benning met Morris when they were in college at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, where Benning said they both played basketball. |
| “I can’t think of a time when I did not see a smile on her face,” Benning told the Sentinel. “I’m so thankful of the good memories I have of her. This is just unreal.” | “I can’t think of a time when I did not see a smile on her face,” Benning told the Sentinel. “I’m so thankful of the good memories I have of her. This is just unreal.” |
| Peter Gonzalez-Cruz | |
| Gonzalez-Cruz, 22, attended high school in New Jersey until 2013 and was working at UPS in Orlando, according to his Facebook page. He spoke both English and Spanish and had lived in Africa. | |
| His cousins posted messages on Twitter after learning of his death, the Sentinel reported. “Rest in peace to my wonderful cousin,” read one. “May you rest easy in Heaven,” read another. | |
| A friend on Facebook said Gonzalez-Cruz was known as Peter Ommy, the name relatives and friends used on social media. | |
| City authorities in Orlando also added the following names to the list of victims: |