“That was the last conversation,” his mother said. “He’s coming,” Justice texted, adding later: “He has us, and he’s in here with us.” Justice told his mom he and others ran into the bathroom to hide. Mina Justice said her son Eddie was inside the club and texted her when the gunshots erupted, the Associated Press reported. According to Dyer, there were five to eight hostages in one room with the shooter and an additional 15 to 20 in a separate room at the time when police entered. Personnel could not go in immediately as explosives were suspected to have been hidden. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told CNN the death toll jumped from 20 to 50 as additional victims were found inside the club. Most of the estimated 320 people inside escaped, but an unknown number were taken hostage in a bathroom. Associated Press Writer Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., also contributed to the story.According to accounts from the scene, the gunman traded gunfire with a police officer before entering Pulse at 2 a.m. The Lanzas autopsies are scheduled for Sunday.
They were a Henry repeating rifle, an Enfield rifle and a shotgun.Īlso unclear is which gun the 20-year-old Lanza used to take his own life or his mother's. Three other guns have also been recovered, but it was not clear where they were found, the official told AP. Husband of slain Uvalde school teacher dies of heart attack 'due to grief' two days after shooting.Video shows cops stopping parents from entering Uvalde elementary school during shooting.Beto O'Rourke, protesters gather outside NRA convention in downtown Houston.Live updates: Greg Abbott says he was 'misled' about the police response to Uvalde shooting, says background checks aren't the answer.'They could've been shot': DPS official explains why police waited to confront Uvalde shooter.Uvalde shooting survivor says gunman played music, told teacher 'goodnight' before killing her during hour-long attack.Report: Uvalde, Texas student laid on top of dying classmate to avoid being shot by gunman.Lanza's mother had legally registered four weapons, and his father had two. Investigators are combing gun shops and ranges in the area, and looking into the ownership of the weapons involved. It was not clear the make of the weapon found outside the school. The Bushmaster and two other weapons were found near the body of Lanza, who killed himself at the school. Sig Sauer 9 mm: considered an upper-tier, quality product, it's comparatively expensive, and its range of uses include elite military and police units. It is a lightweight and comparatively affordable weapon that is often used for target shooting and for personal protection. Glock 10 mm: a larger and more powerful weapon than the widely popular 9 mm, it is in many respects similar to the 9 mm. The medical examiner in Connecticut said it appeared all the children and school staff were shot with the same high-powered rifle, some repeatedly, some at close range. Some models have a detachable magazine that can hold up to 30 rounds. 223-caliber rifle that they fired from the trunk of a car at randomly picked victims.
Two men convicted in a series of sniper killings in the Washington, D.C.-area in 2002 used a Bushmaster. 223-caliber: lightweight with a high capacity, it also is popular with law enforcement and the military, and is commonly seen at shooting competitions.