THE first victims of the horror Orlando nightclub massacre have been named.
Fifteen of the 50 victims gunned down by a crazed gunman at Pulse nightclub have been publicly identified by the City of Orlando council.
Edward Sotomayor Jr, 34, Stanley Almodovar III, 23, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22, Luis S. Vielma, 22 and Kimberly Morris, 37 were the first eight victims to be named by the council.
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, Darryl Roman Burt II, 29, Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32, Alejandro Barrios, 21, Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 and Franky Jimmy Dejesis Velazquez, 50, have since been added to the list of people who lost their lives in Saturday’s bloodbath.
A post on the city’s website, which will be updated with more names as next of kin are informed, said: “On this very difficult day, we offer heartfelt condolences to today’s victims and their families.
“Our City is working tirelessly to get as much information out to the families so they can begin the grieving process. Please keep the following individuals in your thoughts and prayers. #PrayforOrlando.”
J.K. Rowling paid tribute to 22-year-old victim Luis Vielma, who worked at the Harry Potter ride in Universal, on Twitter.
She wrote: “Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can’t stop crying. #Orlando.”
Eddie Jamoldry Justice, whose mum received a spate of terrifying text messages from her son as the horror unfolded, has been confirmed dead.
The 30-year-old sent his mum a harrowing message asking her to call police as the shooting began in the early hours of Sunday morning.
After sending a chilling message telling his mum he loved her and saying “he’s coming”, Eddie added: “He has us, and he’s in here with us.”
His devastated mum Mina Justice said: “That was the last conversation.”
A Facebook page belonging to Edward Sotomayer said he worked at gay travel agency ALand CHUCK.travel and had recently visited the UK on a gay cruise.
According to his Facebook page the Drag Stars cruise, run by Royal Caribbean, docked in London, Southampton and Gibraltar last October.
Last night a Facebook profile belonging to Stanley Almodovar III was flooded with tributed after being turned into a memorial page.
The profile described him as a pharmacy technician from Springfield in Massachusetts, but who was living in Florida.
Friend Fabian Giovanni wrote: “RIP Stanley. My condolence to your friends & family to lose a young & beautiful person . I’m so sorry.”
Shayla Mckitrick added: “My condolences goes out to your family. You was an amazing person and friend. RIP. Heaven gained another amazing angel.”
Another victim, Juan Ramon Guerrero, had only come out to his parents at the beginning of the year for fear of how his family would react, his cousin told CBS News.
When he did, they were “very accepting”, the 19-year-old said. “As long as he was happy, they were OK with it.”
Friends and family have paid tribute to Guerrero on his Instagram page, calling him a “beautiful soul.”
One wrote: “So unfair what happened to you. RIP. I hope the light will rule out the darkness.”
Friends and family also remembered Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo on Facebook, who they called “Omar” in tributes.
His aunt Carla Ocasio called him her “dear nephew” and shared a photo of the 20-year-old that said “dance freely in the heavens.”
Rivera lived in Miami and stuidied at the Bayamon Central University in Puerto Rico.
A friend wrote on Facebook: “I have no words to describe this great friend and human being, and above all, my brother. Everyone who knows what a great friendship we shared and what a great man he was. I adore you. You’ll always be in my heart.
“How empty you’ve left us.”
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