Ten years ago today, hundreds of people were making Saturday night plans to venture out. For 49 of them who went to the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, it would be their last night.
That included Simon Carrillo Fernandez, 31, a resident of The Oaks, who perished along with his partner Oscar Aracena-Montero, 26; and Juan Rivera Velazquez, 37, and Luis Conde, 39, who operated a hairstyling salon on Osceola Parkway. Many of the others had friends or family living in Osceola County.
In the hours after news spread about the shooting, response was immediate.
These photos showed how we covered the tragedy from a community standpoint. We remember, and on this 10th anniversary of the tragedy, help our neighbors remember that we should not and do not live in fear, but in kindness and tolerance.
Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed that flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida from sunrise to sunset.
