The power of social media was on display Sunday morning in Orlando, Florida at the scene of the Pulse Nightclub shooting which left at least 50 people dead.
People inside and around the nightclub began to post their experiences moments after Omar S. Mateen opened fire at Pulse Orlando.
Just minutes after the shooting began, Pulse Orlando posted a dire warning for its patrons on their Facebook page.
The post read, “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running.”
Within an hour, clubgoers were posting accounts of being inside the building.
“I was there. Shooter opened fire @ around 2:00am,” Ricardo J. Negron Almodovar wrote. “People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed
to go out through the outdoor area and just ran. I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well.”
Shortly thereafter he wrote, “Another customer kindly offered to take three of us to our homes. Forever indebted to him!”
Chris Jean was also at the club and said, “I am okay I was the boy who first open the door on the left bar where all the go go boys are at so that everybody can ran out especially my best friends.”
Others, who were not on the scene, responded to the original post with updates on loved ones who were at the club.
“Nothing yet. My daughter is in there,” Libia Carmen wrote. “Please keep praying for them… She’s waiting for cops to be able to come out. I was on the fone and all i hear is shot guns.”
A couple of hours Carmen posted some good news.
“She’s out. Thanks so much for your prayers towards my princess and myself! My life is back!!! Thank you God for hearing our prayers!”
Martha Bonilla’s cousin was one of the injured clubgoers.
“Sadly my cousin was in their and has been shot I pray he makes it praying for him.. For those that made it out I’m happy that you are all ok.. My thoughts and prayers are with all of u.”
Her update was positive as well.
“Thank you all I believed he’s in stable condition for now. Thank you for all the love n support I appreciate it.”
The club’s patrons also took to Twitter to provide updates from the scene.
Brandon Wolf detailed how he and others hid from the gunman but said he was also looking for his friends. He lost at least one friend and was unable to find another.
John PA posted video of the scene outside of the nightclub before detailing his experience inside. A friend of his was shot in the shoulder before they were able to escape.
Nick Hornstein was perched atop a nearby rooftop and had a bird’s eye view of the scene. He provided updates from the scene and also posted video and photos.