Forty-nine people have been killed in a mass shooting at an Orlando, FL, nightclub, according to police. The attack took place on a weekly Latin dance night at a downtown gay club called Pulse and left 53 additional victims injured. Police say the shooter, identified as Omar Mateen, was killed inside the club. It has been declared the the deadliest mass shooting in US history.
Here's what we know so far:
In the aftermath of the attack, hundreds are lining up to give blood at donation centers. However, the FDA still maintains that sexually active gay men are prohibited from donating blood within a year of sexual activity, which has proven to be a point of contention for the local LGBT community.
On the social media front, Facebook has activated its Safety Check feature to allow friends and family to check on loved ones in the Orlando area, and elected officials, news agencies, and other influencers are releasing up-to-the-minute statements on the attacks.
Email or call your Representative and ask them why they have done nothing to #EndGunViolence #Orlando https://t.co/GDvX9u3nKU
— Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) June 12, 2016
#PulseNightclub was one of the first clubs where me and many of my friends felt comfortable enough to be ourselves. My heart hangs heavy.
— Vladimir V (@Vladimirblue) June 12, 2016
— Additional reporting by Kelsey Garcia and Mandy Harris