Orlando survivor: Gunman was shooting wounded victims on floor 'making sure they were dead'
A survivor of the Sunday mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., says the gunman who opened fire on dance floor left briefly only to return to shoot victims who were lying on the ground, “making sure they were dead.”
Angel Colon, who was shot a total of five times during the attack, said Tuesday he was initially struck three times in the leg, knocking him to the floor.
“I tried to get back up,” Colon said during a press conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where 44 people wounded in massacre were treated. “But everyone started running everywhere. I got trampled over.”
Colon’s said his left leg was shattered.
“All I could do was lay down while everyone was just running on top of me,” Colon said. After a flurry of bullets, Colon said the shooter went to another room.
“I thought I was a little safe at this time,” he said, but the gunman returned. “He’s shooting everyone that’s already dead on the floor, making sure they were dead.”
“I look over, he shoots the girl next to me,” Colon continued. “I’m just laying there thinking, ‘I’m next, I’m dead.”
The shooter then pointed his gun at him.
“He shoots towards my head but hits my hand,” Colon said. “Then he shoots again and it hits the side of my hip.”
Colon tried to stay motionless.
“I had no reaction. I was prepared to just stay there laying down so he won’t know I’m alive,” he said.
Eventually, a police officer entered the club and dragged Colon through broken glass to safety.
“He starts to drag me out across the street to Wendy’s,” Colon recalled. “I [didn’t] feel pain, but I [could] feel all this blood on me from myself, from other people.”
According to police, the gunman, identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American citizen who lived in Fort Pierce, Fla., opened fire at the Pulse nightclub shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, killing 49 people in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Colon said it had been a typical night at the club before bullets rang out.
“We were just having a great time,” he said. “We were saying our goodbyes. I’m hugging everyone. It was great night, no drama. Just laughter.”
Orlando Health officials said 27 of those wounded are still in the hospital, including six critically ill patients who are in the intensive care unit.
Related slideshows:
Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>
Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>
Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>
Slideshow: Front page coverage of the Orlando Mass shooting >>>
