Four people, including a child, were shot dead inside a home in Florida. As per reports, the suspect shot three victims inside a home, before getting shot down by the police, who were responding to a domestic violence report early Sunday morning.

As per the AP news agency, officers heard gunshots inside the home. Soon after the suspect exited and shot at officers around 2.25 am, the Orlando Police Department said in a statement.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-spike-in-us-gun-violence-florida-teacher-asks-students-to-write-their-own-obituaries-gets-fired-580690">Amid spike in US gun violence, Florida teacher asks students to write their own obituaries; gets fired</a>

Inside the home, police found three gunshot victims, including one child. The victims were transported to the hospital where they died of their injuries, said the Orlando police.&nbsp;The suspect too died of injuries after being transported to the hospital. Identities of the suspect and the three victims are yet to be released.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amidst-increasing-mass-shootings-florida-allows-concealed-guns-without-permit-in-public-579113">Amidst increasing mass shootings, Florida allows concealed guns without permit in public</a>

AP reports that the two unidentified officers involved in the shooting were not injured and have been placed on administrative leave.

This comes as Florida recently allowed&nbsp;residents to carry concealed guns without a permit.&nbsp;Starting July 1, Floridians who legally own a gun will be able to carry it without requiring a permit, i.e., carrying a concealed weapon in public will now no longer require any training or background checks.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Four people, including a child, were shot dead inside a home in Florida. As per reports, the suspect shot three victims inside a home, before getting shot down by the police, who were responding to a domestic violence report early Sunday morning.

Four people, including a child, were shot dead inside a home in Florida. As per reports, the suspect shot three victims inside a home, before getting shot down by the police, who were responding to a domestic violence report early Sunday morning. As per the AP news agency, officers heard gunshots inside the home. Soon after the suspect exited and shot at officers around 2.25 am, the Orlando Police Department said in a statement. Also read | Amid spike in US gun violence, Florida teacher asks students to write their own obituaries; gets fired Inside the home, police found three gunshot victims, including one child. The victims were transported to the hospital where they died of their injuries, said the Orlando police. The suspect too died of injuries after being transported to the hospital. Identities of the suspect and the three victims are yet to be released. Also read | Amidst increasing mass shootings, Florida allows concealed guns without permit in public AP reports that the two unidentified officers involved in the shooting were not injured and have been placed on administrative leave. This comes as Florida recently allowed residents to carry concealed guns without a permit. Starting July 1, Floridians who legally own a gun will be able to carry it without requiring a permit, i.e., carrying a concealed weapon in public will now no longer require any training or background checks. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Three including a child killed in Florida home shooting, assailant shot by cops

A school teacher in Florida, United States, has been fired for asking students to write their own obituaries. Jeffrey Keene, the dismissed teacher, taught psychology at Dr Phillips high school in the Orlando area. As per a Guardian report, the assignment didn't have malicious intent, rather the teacher just wanted his students to reflect on their own lives as they participate in an active shooter drill. In Florida, a state that in recent days has been plagued by mass shootings, preparations for gun attacks have become commonplace.

Keene had assigned his 11th and 12th-grade students to write their biographical obituaries. As per the 63-year-old teacher, while giving them the assignment, he told the students, "This isn't a way to upset you or anything like that."

Talking to NBC News, Keene said "It wasn't to scare them or make them feel like they were going to die, but just to help them understand what’s important in their lives and how they want to move forward with their lives and how they want to pursue things in their journey."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amidst-increasing-mass-shootings-florida-allows-concealed-guns-without-permit-in-public-579113">Amidst increasing mass shootings, Florida allows concealed guns without permit in public</a>

Keene, who had been hired in January and was still in his probationary period, was fired&nbsp;by the end of the day.&nbsp;He has no recourse to reverse the termination.

"If you can't talk real to them, then what's happening in this environment?" he said, adding, "in my mind, I've done nothing wrong."

Vowing to not change his teaching methods, Keene said that he hopes to find another job.

"I don't think I did anything incorrectly," Keene said. "I know hindsight is 20/20, but I honestly didn't think a 16, 17, 18-year-old would be offended or upset by talking about something we're already talking about."

However, a representative for the Orange County School District labelled the assignment "inappropriate".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-from-nashville-to-sandy-hook-deadliest-us-school-shootings-which-shook-the-world-576769">In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world</a>

Talking to NBC, the district spokesperson said, "Dr Phillips High School families were informed that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence. Administration immediately investigated and the probationary employee has been terminated."

In Governor Ron DeSantis' Florida, carrying a concealed weapon in public without a permit has been made legal. This, as per experts, can potentially lead to an exponential increase in shootings and gun violence, that has in recent years claimed the lives of many. Among the most heart-wrenching and notorious massacres that Florida has witnessed are the 2016 Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland shooting.

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A school teacher in Florida, United States, has been fired for asking students to write their own obituaries. Jeffrey Keene, the dismissed teacher, taught psychology at Dr Phillips high school in the Orlando area.

A school teacher in Florida, United States, has been fired for asking students to write their own obituaries. Jeffrey Keene, the dismissed teacher, taught psychology at Dr Phillips high school in the Orlando area. As per a Guardian report, the assignment didn't have malicious intent, rather the teacher just wanted his students to reflect on their own lives as they participate in an active shooter drill. In Florida, a state that in recent days has been plagued by mass shootings, preparations for gun attacks have become commonplace. Keene had assigned his 11th and 12th-grade students to write their biographical obituaries. As per the 63-year-old teacher, while giving them the assignment, he told the students, "This isn't a way to upset you or anything like that." Talking to NBC News, Keene said "It wasn't to scare them or make them feel like they were going to die, but just to help them understand what’s important in their lives and how they want to move forward with their lives and how they want to pursue things in their journey." Also read | Amidst increasing mass shootings, Florida allows concealed guns without permit in public Keene, who had been hired in January and was still in his probationary period, was fired by the end of the day. He has no recourse to reverse the termination. "If you can't talk real to them, then what's happening in this environment?" he said, adding, "in my mind, I've done nothing wrong." Vowing to not change his teaching methods, Keene said that he hopes to find another job. "I don't think I did anything incorrectly," Keene said. "I know hindsight is 20/20, but I honestly didn't think a 16, 17, 18-year-old would be offended or upset by talking about something we're already talking about." However, a representative for the Orange County School District labelled the assignment "inappropriate". Also read | In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world Talking to NBC, the district spokesperson said, "Dr Phillips High School families were informed that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence. Administration immediately investigated and the probationary employee has been terminated." In Governor Ron DeSantis' Florida, carrying a concealed weapon in public without a permit has been made legal. This, as per experts, can potentially lead to an exponential increase in shootings and gun violence, that has in recent years claimed the lives of many. Among the most heart-wrenching and notorious massacres that Florida has witnessed are the 2016 Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland shooting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid spike in US gun violence, Florida teacher asks students to write their own obituaries; gets fired

Even as the United States reels under the burden of copious amounts of mass shootings and deaths due to firearms, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill, allowing residents to carry concealed guns without a permit. The bill as per ABC News gives the Republican a legislative victory as he prepares to run for US president next year. The governor reportedly signed the bill in a private ceremony in his ceremony.&nbsp;

Starting July 1, Floridians who legally own a gun will be able to carry it without requiring a permit. This means that training and background checks will no longer be necessary for carrying a concealed weapon in public.

DeSantis'&nbsp;office in a public comment said that "Constitutional Carry is in the books."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-from-nashville-to-sandy-hook-deadliest-us-school-shootings-which-shook-the-world-576769">In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world</a>

The bill comes five years after the then-governor Rick Scott, a Republican, signed a bill imposing gun restrictions in the state. This step was taken after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz on February 14, 2018, opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people including students and faculty.

Reacting to DeSantis'&nbsp;bill, Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime, a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the high school shooting, said "I am pissed."

Addressing reporters during an online news conference, he said: "I will chase him down across the state as well as possibly across the country ... because Ron DeSantis today put his signature to a bill that guarantees there will be more Jaimes."

"Somebody in Florida may die ... because of this legislation. That will be because of you, Ron DeSantis," he said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-nashville-shooter-audrey-hale-makes-up-for-an-extremely-rare-assailant-576900">In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world</a>

Referring to the Florida Governor's signing of the bill behind closed doors, he added, "I understand why you hid today ... You are a weak, pathetic, small-minded individual."

Along the political lines, reactions were divided. While Republicans applauded the bill and said that "law-abiding" citizens should have the right to protect themselves, Democrats and gun safety advocates booed the decision. They say that the decision will make the law more dangerous and will potentially lead to mass shootings like the massacre at the 2016 Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Even as the United States reels under the burden of copious amounts of mass shootings and deaths due to firearms, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill, allowing residents to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Even as the United States reels under the burden of copious amounts of mass shootings and deaths due to firearms, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill, allowing residents to carry concealed guns without a permit. The bill as per ABC News gives the Republican a legislative victory as he prepares to run for US president next year. The governor reportedly signed the bill in a private ceremony in his ceremony. Starting July 1, Floridians who legally own a gun will be able to carry it without requiring a permit. This means that training and background checks will no longer be necessary for carrying a concealed weapon in public. DeSantis' office in a public comment said that "Constitutional Carry is in the books." Also read | In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world The bill comes five years after the then-governor Rick Scott, a Republican, signed a bill imposing gun restrictions in the state. This step was taken after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz on February 14, 2018, opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people including students and faculty. Reacting to DeSantis' bill, Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime, a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the high school shooting, said "I am pissed." Addressing reporters during an online news conference, he said: "I will chase him down across the state as well as possibly across the country ... because Ron DeSantis today put his signature to a bill that guarantees there will be more Jaimes." "Somebody in Florida may die ... because of this legislation. That will be because of you, Ron DeSantis," he said. Also read | In Pics | From Nashville to Sandy Hook, deadliest US school shootings which shook the world Referring to the Florida Governor's signing of the bill behind closed doors, he added, "I understand why you hid today ... You are a weak, pathetic, small-minded individual." Along the political lines, reactions were divided. While Republicans applauded the bill and said that "law-abiding" citizens should have the right to protect themselves, Democrats and gun safety advocates booed the decision. They say that the decision will make the law more dangerous and will potentially lead to mass shootings like the massacre at the 2016 Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amidst increasing mass shootings, Florida allows concealed guns without permit in public

A second student from the Florida high school where 17 were shot dead in 2018 has committed suicide within a week, US media reported Sunday.

The Miami Herald said police in Coral Springs told the paper that a current student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland had died of "apparent suicide" late Saturday.&nbsp;

The student was not identified by the police but the Miami Herald said it was a male sophomore or second-year student.

Coral Springs police could not be immediately contacted to confirm the report.

Last weekend Sydney Aiello, 19, who survived the Parkland massacre and graduated last year, killed herself reportedly out of grief and "survivor's guilt."

Two of Aiello's best friends, Meadow Pollack and Joaquin Oliver, were among the dead when former student Nikolas Cruz raked the school on February 14, 2018, with a semi-automatic weapon, killing 14 students and three staff members.

Aiello's parents told local news channel CBS4 that she had been treated for PTSD and suffered from survivor's guilt when a victim fixates on why he or she managed to live, not someone else.

After the shooting, Stoneman Douglas students became crusaders against gun violence under the banner "March for Our Lives," lobbying for tougher gun control laws and organizing protests and rallies.

A second student from the Florida high school where 17 were shot dead in 2018 has committed suicide within a week, US media reported Sunday. The Miami Herald said police in Coral Springs told the paper that a current student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland had died of "apparent suicide" late Saturday.

A second student from the Florida high school where 17 were shot dead in 2018 has committed suicide within a week, US media reported Sunday. The Miami Herald said police in Coral Springs told the paper that a current student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland had died of "apparent suicide" late Saturday. The student was not identified by the police but the Miami Herald said it was a male sophomore or second-year student. Coral Springs police could not be immediately contacted to confirm the report. Last weekend Sydney Aiello, 19, who survived the Parkland massacre and graduated last year, killed herself reportedly out of grief and "survivor's guilt." Two of Aiello's best friends, Meadow Pollack and Joaquin Oliver, were among the dead when former student Nikolas Cruz raked the school on February 14, 2018, with a semi-automatic weapon, killing 14 students and three staff members. Aiello's parents told local news channel CBS4 that she had been treated for PTSD and suffered from survivor's guilt when a victim fixates on why he or she managed to live, not someone else. After the shooting, Stoneman Douglas students became crusaders against gun violence under the banner "March for Our Lives," lobbying for tougher gun control laws and organizing protests and rallies.

Second student suicide from Florida massacre school reported

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was heading to Florida to meet with victims of the school shooting massacre there this week, as Washington struggles with how to prevent repeated episodes of deadly gun violence.

&ldquo;I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts,&rdquo; Donald Trump tweeted.

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I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts.
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/964509154357411840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The President plans to fly to West Palm Beach, Florida, to spend the weekend with his family at his Mar-a-Lago private club, located just 60 km north of Parkland, Florida, where the shooting occurred on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Efe news agency reported.

The White House did not immediately provide details of the president&rsquo;s planned travel in Florida.

Trump, however, made no mention of possible further gun-control measures in his Thursday speech.

US president is facing mounting pressure to tighten the nation&rsquo;s gun laws.

US president is facing mounting pressure to tighten the nation’s gun laws.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was heading to Florida to meet with victims of the school shooting massacre there this week, as Washington struggles with how to prevent repeated episodes of deadly gun violence. “I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts,” Donald Trump tweeted. I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2018 × The President plans to fly to West Palm Beach, Florida, to spend the weekend with his family at his Mar-a-Lago private club, located just 60 km north of Parkland, Florida, where the shooting occurred on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Efe news agency reported. The White House did not immediately provide details of the president’s planned travel in Florida. Trump, however, made no mention of possible further gun-control measures in his Thursday speech. US president is facing mounting pressure to tighten the nation’s gun laws.

US President Donald Trump to visit the families of Florida massacre victims

White House hopeful Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;vowed Monday to &quot;suspend&nbsp;immigration&quot; from&nbsp;nations&nbsp;with links to&nbsp;terror&nbsp;attacks targeting the United States or its allies, one day after a Florida nightclub massacre.

&quot;When I&#39;m elected, I will&nbsp;suspend&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;from&nbsp;areas of the world where there is a proven&nbsp;history&nbsp;of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats,&quot;&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said during a national security speech in New Hampshire.

&quot;We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country, many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer.&quot;

Trump&nbsp;rapped his likely opponent in the US presidential race, Democrat Hillary Clinton, by saying she is pushing to expand&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;and the nation&#39;s refugee program to allow more Syrians into the United States.

&quot;Clinton wants to allow radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our country,&quot; he said, highlighting how such extremists have enslaved women and murdered homosexuals.

&quot;Immigration&nbsp;is a privilege, and we should not let anyone in this country who doesn&#39;t support our communities.&quot;

Speaking of the Orlando shooter, who was born in New York to Afghan parents,Trump&nbsp;said &quot;the only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here.&quot;

&quot;We have a dysfunctional&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country,&quot; he added.

Trump&#39;s blunt comments come six months after he controversially called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

He also expressed strong support for America&#39;s gay community, following Sunday&#39;s attack on the gay nightclub in Orlando left 50 people dead including the shooter.

&quot;This is a very dark moment in America&#39;s&nbsp;history,&quot;&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said.

&quot;It&#39;s a strike at the heart and soul of who we are as a nation,&quot; he added.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want and express their identity.&quot;

Trump's blunt comments come six months after he controversially called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States

White House hopeful Donald Trump vowed Monday to "suspend immigration" from nations with links to terror attacks targeting the United States or its allies, one day after a Florida nightclub massacre. "When I'm elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats," Trump said during a national security speech in New Hampshire. "We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country, many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer." Trump rapped his likely opponent in the US presidential race, Democrat Hillary Clinton, by saying she is pushing to expand immigration and the nation's refugee program to allow more Syrians into the United States. "Clinton wants to allow radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our country," he said, highlighting how such extremists have enslaved women and murdered homosexuals. "Immigration is a privilege, and we should not let anyone in this country who doesn't support our communities." Speaking of the Orlando shooter, who was born in New York to Afghan parents,Trump said "the only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here." "We have a dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country," he added. Trump's blunt comments come six months after he controversially called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. He also expressed strong support for America's gay community, following Sunday's attack on the gay nightclub in Orlando left 50 people dead including the shooter. "This is a very dark moment in America's history," Trump said. "It's a strike at the heart and soul of who we are as a nation," he added. "It's an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want and express their identity."

Trump would 'suspend immigration' from nations with terror history

A day before the&nbsp;Orlando, Florida, nightclub massacre, Luis Vielma, 22, updated his Facebook profile with a picture of himself standing with young people in front of a Disney castle and a caption that read: &quot;True friends who become family.&quot;

By Sunday night, his profile was altered to &quot;Remember Luis Vielma&quot; after police confirmed he was among 50 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

As authorities frantically tried to notify all the relatives, the&nbsp;Orlando&nbsp;Police Department began publishing the&nbsp;names&nbsp;of&nbsp;victims on a city website on Sunday afternoon.

Among them was Vielma, who worked part-time as a rides attendant at the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey theme park ride, while studying physical therapy at Seminole State College, according to his Facebook profile.

Others included Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34, Stanley Almodovar III, 23, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36, and Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22.

Police killed the gunman, who was identified as Omar Mateen, 29, a New York-born Florida resident and U.S. citizen who was the son of immigrants from Afghanistan, and officials were probing evidence suggesting the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State militants.

The sheer number of deaths appeared to overwhelm officials in&nbsp;Orlando, a city of 270,000 people.&nbsp;Orlando&nbsp;police asked mourners to hold off on vigils as they were understaffed to police them.

&quot;We understand our community is grieving and that vigils are being planned but PLEASE hold off on vigils &ndash; they represent a serious strain on our limited resources, which we need to dedicate to law enforcement and&nbsp;victims,&quot; the city posted on its official Twitter handle.

Sotomayor was a marketing manager at a Sarasota, Florida-based gay-themed travel company. His boss, Al Ferguson, said Sotomayor&#39;s partner was outside the nightclub putting something in the car when the shots rang out.

He got a text from Sotomayor telling him he was safe in the bathroom and not to come back into the club. Sotomayor texted again 20 minutes later to say he was OK. That was the last his partner heard from him, Ferguson said.

Sotomayor was a legend in the industry, Ferguson said. He booked tours for entertainer and drag queen RuPaul and put together the first gay cruise to Cuba last year. He was going to announce a second trip on Sunday, but was killed.

&quot;Anyone who booked gay cruises knew Sotomayor,&quot; Ferguson told Reuters. &quot;He was a great man.&quot;

In an Instagram post published on Sunday, RuPaul&#39;s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage called Sotomayor &quot;a joy.&quot;

&quot;I loved you on so many levels. You were SO SO special and will never be forgotten,&quot; she wrote. &quot;I promise you that.&quot;

Neighbors of Almodovar, a 23-year-old pharmacy technician, said his parents had recently moved back to Puerto Rico after his mother became ill with cancer. He was the youngest in the family.

The Facebook page for Almodovar, of Clermont, Florida, was flooded with shocked tributes. &quot;We&#39;ll miss you Stanley. You made an impact on everyone that you came around. A good person and friend,&rdquo; wrote Mark Nielsen of Deltona, Florida.

Images posted to Almodovar&#39;s wall over the years showed him socializing with dozens of friends.

&quot;I will always remember you,&quot; Jeannette Molina wrote. &quot;Your beautiful personality and spirit.&quot;

The sheer number of deaths appeared to overwhelm officials.?Orlando?police asked mourners to hold off on vigils as they were understaffed

A day before the Orlando, Florida, nightclub massacre, Luis Vielma, 22, updated his Facebook profile with a picture of himself standing with young people in front of a Disney castle and a caption that read: "True friends who become family." By Sunday night, his profile was altered to "Remember Luis Vielma" after police confirmed he was among 50 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. As authorities frantically tried to notify all the relatives, the Orlando Police Department began publishing the names of victims on a city website on Sunday afternoon. Among them was Vielma, who worked part-time as a rides attendant at the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey theme park ride, while studying physical therapy at Seminole State College, according to his Facebook profile. Others included Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34, Stanley Almodovar III, 23, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36, and Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22. Police killed the gunman, who was identified as Omar Mateen, 29, a New York-born Florida resident and U.S. citizen who was the son of immigrants from Afghanistan, and officials were probing evidence suggesting the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State militants. The sheer number of deaths appeared to overwhelm officials in Orlando, a city of 270,000 people. Orlando police asked mourners to hold off on vigils as they were understaffed to police them. "We understand our community is grieving and that vigils are being planned but PLEASE hold off on vigils – they represent a serious strain on our limited resources, which we need to dedicate to law enforcement and victims," the city posted on its official Twitter handle. Sotomayor was a marketing manager at a Sarasota, Florida-based gay-themed travel company. His boss, Al Ferguson, said Sotomayor's partner was outside the nightclub putting something in the car when the shots rang out. He got a text from Sotomayor telling him he was safe in the bathroom and not to come back into the club. Sotomayor texted again 20 minutes later to say he was OK. That was the last his partner heard from him, Ferguson said. Sotomayor was a legend in the industry, Ferguson said. He booked tours for entertainer and drag queen RuPaul and put together the first gay cruise to Cuba last year. He was going to announce a second trip on Sunday, but was killed. "Anyone who booked gay cruises knew Sotomayor," Ferguson told Reuters. "He was a great man." In an Instagram post published on Sunday, RuPaul's Drag Race judge Michelle Visage called Sotomayor "a joy." "I loved you on so many levels. You were SO SO special and will never be forgotten," she wrote. "I promise you that." Neighbors of Almodovar, a 23-year-old pharmacy technician, said his parents had recently moved back to Puerto Rico after his mother became ill with cancer. He was the youngest in the family. The Facebook page for Almodovar, of Clermont, Florida, was flooded with shocked tributes. "We'll miss you Stanley. You made an impact on everyone that you came around. A good person and friend,” wrote Mark Nielsen of Deltona, Florida. Images posted to Almodovar's wall over the years showed him socializing with dozens of friends. "I will always remember you," Jeannette Molina wrote. "Your beautiful personality and spirit."

These were the 49 victims

Facebook Inc activated its &ldquo;Safety Check&rdquo; function on Sunday for the first time in the United States after a gunman massacred 50 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

The Safety Check, first introduced in October 2014, allows Facebook users to spread the word that they are safe in wake of a natural disaster or a crisis, and allows searches for those who might be in the affected area.

&quot;Waking up this morning, I was horrified to hear about the shooting in Orlando. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBT community,&quot; said Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on his official account.

A gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in US&nbsp;history. Police killed the shooter at the Pulse nightclub, who was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Florida resident and US&nbsp;citizen.

The incident quickly emerged as a top trending topic on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #PrayforOrlando being one of the top posts throughout the day.

Last year, Facebook vowed to turn on the Safety Check more often during disasters in response to criticism that it enabled the function after Islamic State militant attacks on Paris and not a day earlier when a bomb killed at least 43 people in Beirut.

The shooting incident quickly emerged as a top trending topic on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #PrayforOrlando

Facebook Inc activated its “Safety Check” function on Sunday for the first time in the United States after a gunman massacred 50 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The Safety Check, first introduced in October 2014, allows Facebook users to spread the word that they are safe in wake of a natural disaster or a crisis, and allows searches for those who might be in the affected area. "Waking up this morning, I was horrified to hear about the shooting in Orlando. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBT community," said Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on his official account. A gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in US history. Police killed the shooter at the Pulse nightclub, who was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Florida resident and US citizen. The incident quickly emerged as a top trending topic on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #PrayforOrlando being one of the top posts throughout the day. Last year, Facebook vowed to turn on the Safety Check more often during disasters in response to criticism that it enabled the function after Islamic State militant attacks on Paris and not a day earlier when a bomb killed at least 43 people in Beirut.

Orlando shooting triggers Facebook 'Safety Check' for first time in US