Image via Complex Original
In the early hours of Sunday, 50 people (including the shooter) were killed after Omar Mateen opened fire at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a gay bar. It was the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. By afternoon, the city of Orlando began listing victims' names:
During this difficult time, we offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the 49 victims who lost their lives during the Pulse tragedy. To the families and friends of the victims, your city is with you and will continue to be with you as you deal with this unimaginable tragedy.
In the conversations surrounding the shooting, it's easy to get lost in debates about gun control, Islamophobia, homophobia, and politics; but it's important to take time and remember the people whose lives were unfairly taken. Every victim had family, friends, and loved ones affected by this loss.
Read their names.
Look at their faces.
Note that they each contained multitudes and entire universes.
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
According to LinkedIn, Sarasota resident Sotomayor was the national brand manager for Florida-based gay travel agency Al and Chuck Travel, which boasts itself on "creating the planet's #1 gay vacations"
Sotomayor's cousin, David Sotomayor, told the Associated Press that Edward was "always just part of the fun." His boss, Al Ferguson, who was at the hospital with Sotomayor's family, wrote on Facebook: “One of the saddest days of my life. I will try to start to find the good in all of this.”
“I’m so sad and my heart is broken,” another friend, Christian Wilson Cservak, wrote. “The [world] lost an amazing guy. So full of life and love. [May] he rest in peace always.”
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
His Facebook profile shows Almodovar, from Clermont, Fla., was a pharmacy technician.
His friend Hazel Ramirez told The Two-Way that they met at Pulse and "clicked instantly." "He made me feel like it was perfectly fine being who I was," she said, adding, "You would know when Stanley entered a room. He can turn my mood by a conversation."
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Twenty-year-old Omar Capo was a dancer. The night of the shooting, he was with his friend Julius Ortiz, who had left the club early, but texted him all night long trying to reach him, NPR reports.
His other friend Tamandra Diaz posted a photo of Capo on Facebook, writing, "I will cherish our memories for as long as I live." A former teacher told The Daily Beast that he was "a ray of sunshine every day."
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old and Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Guerrero (left) had recently come out to his family, according to Associated Press. He was at Pulse with his boyfriend, Christopher Leinonen (right), whose death was confirmed by the city of Orlando on Monday after being unaccounted for.
Guerrero was a student at the University of Central Florida. "He was always this amazing person (and) he was like a big brother to me," his cousin Robert Guerrero told AP.
Leinonen's father described him in a letter to The Detroit News: "Like his mother, Christopher was very idealistic about the human race, and he did not want to see the evil in the world or even to believe it existed."
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Ortiz-Rivera, who moved to Florida from Puerto Rico, will be remembered as a "goofball who liked to dance," according to The New York Times obit. His friends and family say he was very artistic, with an interest in interior design and dance and a knack for cutting hair. His cousin, Orlando Gonzalez, said they always went to clubs together. His former roommate,Abismel Colon Gomez, said, "Eric was always willing to help everybody. He sacrificed himself a lot for his family. He loved his brother, and he was always being generous." Gonzalez is survived by his husband, to whom he was married for one year.
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Gonzalez-Cruz went by the nickname "Ommy," his aunt, Sonia Cruz, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "If Peter is not at the party, no one wants to go," she said of her nephew. He worked at a UPS in Orlando. On Saturday night, he was at Pulse with his best friend, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, also a victim of the shooting.
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal in Orlando. J.K. Rowling tweeted a tribute to him late Sunday night. "Luis was by far the best person I knew," his friend Will Randle told the Miami Herald. "He inherently made us all better people by simply existing around us. Part of him will always live on in every good decision I make."
Kimberly "KJ" Morris, 37 years old
Morris, who went by "KJ," was a bouncer at Pulse who was fatally shot during her Saturday night shift. She had moved to Orlando just two months ago to help her mother and grandmother, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Previously she had lived in Hawaii and Massachusetts (where she also worked as a gay club bouncer) and played basketball at Post University in Connecticut.
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Jacksonville resident Burt was a financial aid officer, according to the Florida Times-Union. He worked at Keiser University as a community volunteer.
"He was personable, social and easy going," said Shawn DeVries, President of non-profit organization Jacksonville Jaycees to which Burt belonged. "Both socially and professionally he was always interested in making positive impact on people's lives and in the community."
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
According to her aunt’s Facebook post, Deonka “Dee Dee” was at work when she was fatally shot at Pulse. She moved to Florida from South Carolina, and had faced a few felony charges from drug possession. "She was doing better [when I spoke to her last month]," Drayton’s girlfriend Ashleigh Alleyne told Orlando Sentinel. "She was still on probation, but she wasn't getting in trouble, she was actually working with her cousin, I believe.
She added, "I know that she didn't leave this earth doing wrong. She was actually putting in effort, because we both hit rock bottom at the same time. She pushed me to get through her issues and I always tried to do the same for her."
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 years old
Family members said Laureno Disla was his happiest when he was on the dance floor, which is where he was on Saturday evening. "He started dancing when he was about 10 years old,” his cousin Ana Figueroa told the Orlando Sentinel. From San Juan, Puerto Rico, originally, Laureno Disla moved to Orlando and performed as a drag artist (Alanis Laurell). He had studied communications at Universidad Del Sagrado Corazon but didn’t finish.
Laureno Disla’s friend Cindy J. Ross D’Austin posted a beautiful photo of them together on Facebook.
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old and Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Perez (left) was at Pulse with his partner, Wilson-Leon (right), when the shooting happened. They were both killed.
In the hours following the shooting, friends of the pair posted messages to social media searching for them. On Monday, the city of Orlando confirmed they were among the dead.
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Velazquez lived in Orlando, Florida, and was originally from San Juan in Puerto Rico. He worked at Forever 21 as a visual merchandizer and studied at Inter American University of Puerto Rico.
After the shooting, relatives flooded social media with appeals to find Velazquez. After his death was confirmed, his niece Kendra Santana posted: “My heart is in the greatest pain, I feel numb to have lost you, this hurts my soul.”
Another family member Mahya Veray posted a heartbreaking tribute where she said: “What happened in Orlando affects all of us because it is an act of hate against the freedom to be who you are.
“I’m trying not to fall pray to hate, at the person who killed you, at the gringos, at Trump, at the terrorists … because then I would be part of the vicious circle of judge and jury. They killed you out of hate for the freedom to be who you are and it makes me hurt inside because if there was anyone who always had a smile, who helped me, who was caring with me, my music and my madnesses, it was you.
"Rest in peace. Strength to your family, I hope you are an infinite light.”
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old and Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Alvear (right) was at Pulse with friends, including Mercedez Flores (left), who was also killed, when the shooting began. Many of her friends only discovered she had been at Pulse during the shooting when they saw a Snapchat video she posted from the club.
In the video, Alvear and her friends are dancing and enjoying themselves before she later begins filming her face as gunshots are heard in the background. After her death was confirmed, her sister Ashley Velez posted several tributes on Facebook: “The best godmother anyone could ever ask for. RIP Amanda Alvear. You will be missed my angel. I love you.”
Flores lived in Davenport in Florida but was originally from Queens in New York. She worked at Target and had previously studied at Valencia Community College.
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Torres was from San Juan in Puerto Rico. He studied at the Ana G. Méndez University System in San Juan. He was in Orlando with family.
In several videos posted the day of the shooting he said he had just arrived in Orlando. He filmed his family, said he was going to visit his nephew, and talked about how beautiful the area was.
On Facebook, his friend Arlene J. Cruz Torres posted: “I am heartbroken that a beloved friend got killed in this tragedy. Beautiful soul you definitely will be missed.”
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Rosado was a dancer and had previously worked at Disney Live! And Splash Bar at Panama City in Florida. He was also a father to a young son.
Following news of Rosado’s passing, Splash Bar said in a statement posted on Facebook: “It’s with a heavy heart we must confirm the passing of Eman Valentino (Xavier E. Serrano) after being shot at the Orlando nightclub Pulse by a madman. He was part of Splash’s extended family and leaves a small son behind.
He took his time to work with Flagpole, Grant, Vadim and some of the other dancers to improve their moves and was quick with a smile. He most recently appeared as a male entertainer at Splash as well as a go go dancer. Our prayers are with your family, my friend.”
His friend, Antonia Doric, posted a photo of him on Facebook with the caption: “I can’t believe you are gone, and gone too soon. You will remain living in the memories of all the people who have been lucky enough to have met you and those special memories will always bring a smile.”
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Menendez’s cousin Irma Silva-Lauer told the Orlando Sentinel that Menendez grew up in Manati in Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando a few years ago. He studied health care management at Ana G. Mendez University System and started working as a sales associate at Speedway this year.
Another cousin, Maribel Silva, wrote a heartfelt message on her Facebook: “Tomorrow is not promised so please extend yourselves a little more, don’t take life for granted and tell those that are currently in your life how much they mean to you."
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old and Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Fernandez (left) was a manager at McDonald’s. He was with his partner, Aracena-Montero (right), at Pulse when the shooting occurred. A former colleague told Orlando Sentinel that Fernandez was “definitely the description of a leader, not a boss.”
Norkis Fernandez-Valdez, a friend, remembered great memories with both Fernandez and Aracena-Montero in a Facebook post. Later she added: “I’m so heartbroken that you guys and so many other friends lost their lifes in such a senseless act. I pray for strength and courage for us all.”
Aracena-Montero’s cousin, Joel Aracena, remembered his humility, wisdom, and innocence in a Facebook post. “Still hard to believe I don’t have my partner with me,” he wrote. “There’s my cousin, my beautiful Oscar Aracena. I’m going to miss you as long as life has… RIP”
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Rios studied social work at St. Francis College and worked as a coordinator at True Care Home Health Care. he’s a Brooklyn native who was on vacation in Orlando at the time of the attack.
St. Francis College said in a news release: “Sadly, his dreams were cut short by this senseless act of violence. The St. Francis College community mourns the loss of one of our own and offers prays to his family and friends.”
Rios’ mother has started a GoFundMe to return her son’s body to New York. “My family is torn apart and all I would like is to have my son with me so he can the funeral he deserves,” she wrote. “My son was a good kid. He was just having a great time on his vacation, until this deranged man came in and shot the place up killing 49 people and 30 in critical condition. Please help me bring my son home for a proper funeral. Thank you. May god bless you always.” In 22 hours, over $23,000 has been donated.
Shavonne Dee Shabah Banks, Rios’ cousin, left a memorial post on her Facebook: “It is shocking and painful that something laced with so much hatred could have happened. To my cousin Enrique Rios, I love you emensly and I will miss you just as much - but I KNOW you are with the Lord.”
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Honorato lived in Apopka in Florida and worked for FajitaMex Mexican Catering. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Honorato was a father of three children.
Enrique Ezequiel Honorato said in a Facebook post that he “cant face the fact that my Blood Brother is gone” and that he he was “never going to forget you.”
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jorge-Reyes was from Guayama, Puerto Rico, and lived in Orlando. He worked as a supervisor at Gucci and studied tourism at Academia San Antonio Guayama. According to his Facebook page, he was also known as Harvey George Kings, which according to the Orlando Sentinel is an English translation of his Spanish name. His friends knew him as “Javi,” reports the Orlando Sentinel.
Friend Ellen Taaffe wrote: “Today I woke up to the news I spent all night hoping not to hear! An old and dear friend lost his precious life in the completely senseless act of yesterday that I will never be able to comprehend. Harvey George Kings, your smile was contagious and your sass always entertaining! You made me feel like a beautiful woman and mother even on days I couldn't see it, and you had an uncanny knack for making my baby kick on demand when I was pregnant!! You are so very loved and never forgotten. I hope you get to spend all your days dancing and laughing until we see you again!!”
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Josaphat was from Fort Lauderdale and lived in Orlando. He graduated from Southern Technical Institute’s business office specialist program and, according to the Orlando Sentinel, is the youngest victim identified thus far.
Messiah McMillian, Josaphat’s longtime friend who he met at Skyline High School, told ABC15: ‘Whenever somebody was in a bad mood or if you saw anyone down, he would always be that one friend helping to put everyone up.”
Skyline High School paid tribute to Josaphat on Twitter.
Family members told Orlando Sentinel that Josaphat called his mother from Pulse nightclub early Sunday and told there was a shooting. His mother told him she would call 911 and he should hide in a bathroom stall.
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Connell (center) was from Orlando and was among the younger victims of the mass shooting. He studied sports journalism at Valencia Community College and worked as a stocker at Publix.
Connell’s family told CNN that he was at Pusle with his girlfriend, who was injured in the attack but is recovering in the hospital.
His brother Ryan shared a photograph of Connell as a child and wrote: “The superhero of our family! A family man through and through. The world lost an amazing soul, today. God just got the best of angels.” He added: “Now we grieve for the greatest man i know. Cory i love you more than words can ever express!”
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old and Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Originally from Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, Velazquez (left) was in the nightclub with his partner Conde (right), from Puerto Rico’s San Lorenzo, when the attack occurred. Both men, who were there to celebrate a friend’s birthday, were killed.
Velazquez, who according to his brother baron Serrano was well-known about Orlando, worked as a hair stylist.
On social media, many mourned the loss of the happy couple of 13 years. “You will always be together in heaven and in our hearts,” Nelia Bauza wrote. Another friend paid tribute to the pair, writing: “You were both a bright light in this community, and were taken way too soon.”
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Tomlinson attended East Carolina University and graduated in 2003 with a degree in communication. The university said in a statement that he was known around campus as a talented singer with a “high intensity personality.”
Juan Chzvez-Martinez, 25 years old
According to Martinez' Facebook, his hometown was Huichapan, Mexico. He lived in Davenport, Florida, and is remembered by his hotel colleagues as a kind and loving person, The Orlando Sentinel reports.
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
Wright had a tight-knit group of friends he worked with at Walt Disney World who mourned him on Monday, Orlando Sentinel reports.
"It's hard to understand, but the people with you work with at Disney, they are an amazing family," said Scott Dickison, who left Disney last July to take a job with ION Network in Clearwater. "Jerry was a great guy to work with. He was quiet but really wonderful with all the guests. He always had a smile on his face."
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
"He was the best," Paniagua’s church friend Lorena Barragan told the Orlando Sentinel. "He was loyal. He was always trying to do stuff to make you feel better."
He lived in Veracruz, Mexico, before moving to Ocoee. He moved back to Mexico for several years but recently left for Tampa, where he was working in construction, making money to send home.
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Fernandez loved to sing and dance and was a vivacious presence in many people’s lives. He worked as a leasing agent at Auvers Village. His friend and manager Yolanda Quinones-Perez told the Orlando Sentinel, "He filled our office with music. He sang Adele in the office until we couldn't take it anymore.”
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Owner of a marketing firm, Total Entrepreneurs Concepts, Crosby is remembered as a hard-working guy. "He was very ambitious," his brother Chavis told the Orlando Sentinel. "Whatever goal he had in mind, he worked hard. Whether alone or on a team, he worked on that goal."
Crosby was visiting Orlando from Michigan.
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
At just 21 years old, Martinez was one of the youngest victims from this tragedy.
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Ayala-Ayala moved to Florida where he worked as a biologics assistant at OneBlood donation center. "He loved to dance salsa and all kinds of Latin dancing," his friend River Muñiz said. "He didn't even drink because he had a long drive home and always wanted to be safe."
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Brown was an Army Reserve Captain. He attended Florida A&M University, where he studied criminal justice and served as a member of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). The university said in a statement: "We are especially saddened by the news that one of the victims was part of the FAMU family.”
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Originally from Guánica, Puerto Rico, Candelario-Padro lived in Chicago before moving to Orlando, where he worked as ophthalmic technician at the Florida Retina Institute. According to his aunt, Candelario-Padro was at Pulse with a friend who had been shot three times in the leg.
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
The Chicago native loved to dance and play pool. He had two children and a boyfriend, Francisco Hernandez, who told the Orlando Sentinel, "He knew I had the potential for greater things. I had three years of college but didn't finish. He wanted the best for me, to succeed and to help me make something of myself.
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
According to The Adviser, Hernandez moved to Orlando from Lafayette after receiving a promotion at Calvin Klein. He was at Pulse with his boyfriend, who was shot but survived.
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
McCool was from New York and lived in Florida, reports NBC News. According to Orlando Sentinel, she was a mother of 12 and, as NBC News writes, was at Pulse the night of the attack with her 21-year-old son, Isaiah Henderson.
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
According to ABC News, Murray was an honors student from Philadelphia who was in Orlando with her family celebrating her graduation from West Catholic Preparatory High School. She was a top basketball player and was set to attend Mercyhurst College in Erie on a full basketball scholarship, reports WFTV Channel 9.
Her mother Natalie told 7News that Akyra had sent her a text message asking her to pick her up from Pulse nightclub early Sunday morning after the shooting broke out. Later, she called screaming as she hid in the bathroom, saying she was bleeding profusely.
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
The Daily Beast reports that Rodriguez was a general manager at a local store. Friends remember him as “a great person inside and out.”
His cousin’s wife paid tribute to Rodriguez on Facebook, and wrote that their family was devastated by the news.
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Sanfeliz was from Havana, Cuba and worked as a personal banker at JPMorgan Chase. A former classmate told Tampa Bay Times he was “the most positive guy I’ve ever known.”
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Solivan was a mother of two and was at Pulse nightclub with Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, a friend, and William Sabad Borges, her brother-in-law, reports CNN. Only Borges survived the attack.
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Vega was at Pusle nightclub with Solivan and Solivan’s brother-in-law, William Sabad Borges. He died protecting Solivan, reports The Daily Mail.
He worked on the production team for Orlando-based talent competition La Voz Kids. La Voz Kids paid tribute to Vega on Facebook, writing: “The family of Telemundo and La Voz Kids deeply regret the less of Jonathan Camuy, who was part of our production.”
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Justice's mother, Mina Justice, shared her last texts with her son, who was trapped in the Pulse bathroom. “Mommy I love you,” he wrote. “In club they shooting.” He pleaded her to call 911, before texting "I'm gonna die." They exchanged words for about 45 minutes. His death was confirmed on Monday. His mother told Associated Press that he was an accountant living in downtown Orlando who loved to eat, work out, and make everyone laugh.