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Names of victims have been flooding through the City of Orlando's live blog, with the list ballooning from 18 to 49 in about 24 hours. The victims, who ranged in age from 18 to 50, were all drawn to the Pulse gay nightclub to enjoy Latin music, dance and socialise. Many were thriving in their careers, or just starting out. Some had dreams of becoming Hollywood stars. One victim took the bullet for his boyfriend. A young girl at the club captured her final moments in a series of heart-breaking video snippets on the picture messaging app, Snapchat. A victim's mother made her son tomato and cheese dip while he was at the club, expecting that he would come home hungry. But he never did. These are the stories of some of the young men and women who were killed in what has now become known as the worst mass shooting in America's history.
Stanley Almodovar III
Stanley Almodovar Photo: orlandosentinel.com
Grieving family and friends have filled the Facebook page of Stanley Manolo Almodovar III, 23, describing Mr Almodovar as a vibrant, kind and generous man.
One friend, D'Andre Bims says he is still reeling from the news, claiming he "snapchatted" with Mr Almodovar just a week ago. "I was tellung (sic) you how cute u (sic) looked, so sad that you are gone, thank you for always watching my snaps and thank you for being a friend," the post reads.
The pharmacy technician, who formerly worked at Walgreens and Target, according to his Facebook page, moved from Springfield in Massachusetts to Clermont, Florida.
His mother Rosalie Ramos told the Orlando Sentinel she made her son a tomato and cheese dip while he was at the club, and left it in the refrigerator for him, expecting that he would come home hungry.
Around 2am, she received a call on her mobile phone.
"Come quick, hurry," a frantic woman cried on the phone, the Orlando Sentinel reports. "You need to be here."
Ms Ramos dressed quickly and went to the club, but was not able to say goodbye. Her son was shot three times in the chest, the stomach, and the the side, the newspaper reports.
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo
Orlando shooting victim, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo. Photo: Facebook via Reuters
The 20-year-old dreamed of becoming a Hollywood star. He attended La Vergne High School and worked at Starbucks inside a Kissimmee Target store while studying theatre, according to media reports.
His sister, Belinette Ocasio-Capo, told the Associated Press that he was "one of the most amazing dancers."
"He would always call me and say, 'I'm going to be the next Hollywood star.' He really did want to make it and be known," she said.
"Now his name ended up being all around the world, like he wanted — just not this way."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help his family with funeral costs and has raised $6,177 in a single day.
The La Vergne Mayor Dennis Waldron, said US flags in La Vergne would be flown at half mast until sunset June 16 in memory of the victims.
"Our hearts mourn with the families of all the victims as well as the community of Orlando," he said in a statement.
Amanda Alvear
Orlando shooting victim, Amanda Alvear. Photo: Facebook
"She was a fashionista. She liked to look good, and she wanted my girls – her girls - to look good," her brother Brian Alvear told The Orlando Sentinel. "She liked to make them look very good."
The 25-year-old was a frequent user of messaging app Snapchat, and used it to post short clips from the Pulse club on the night of the shooting, capturing her friends laughing, drinking and dancing.
The clip shows revellers dancing to music, before her final post, just five seconds long, reveals her anguished face as gunshots echo in the background.
"Shooting," she says briefly, before staring into the distance as 10 gunshots rapidly ring out, followed by a pause, then another eight gunshots in quick succession.
The nursing student from Polk Country, regularly contacted her parents to inform them of her whereabouts, which is why they grew worried when she hadn't called them after the attack.
"She was meticulous about calling home, letting my parents know if she was coming home, staying out or staying with friends," her brother said.
One of her closest friends, Mercedez Marisol Flores, also died in the shooting.
Mercedez Marisol Flores
Victim Mercedez Marisol Flores Photo: Facebook
The 26-year-old originally from Queens, New York, studied at Valencia Community College and worked at Target, according to her Facebook page. Flores' sister-in-law Nancy Flores told the Associated Press that the victim went to Pulse frequently.
"She was very outgoing," she said. "She had lots of friends. They used to always meet up at Pulse."
It wasn't until the early hours of Monday that Ms Flores' father got a call from the sheriff's office that his daughter had died, Nancy said.
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz
Orlando shooting victim, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz Photo: Facebook
The 22-year-old, better known as Peter Ommy to to his friends and relatives, spoke English and Spanish.
His aunt told the Sunday Telegraph that Peter was always the life of the party.
"Peter makes a difference everywhere he goes. He was a happy person. If Peter is not at the party, no one wants to go," his aunt, Sonia Cruz, said.
Mr Gonzalez-Cruz went to the nightclub with his best friend, 25-year-old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, the news site reports.
Edward Sotomayo Jr
Edward Sotomayo Jr. Photo: Facebook
Edward Sotomayo Jr, 34, was reportedly at the at the Pulse nightclub with his boyfriend, when the shooting broke out, and took a bullet in his back to save his boyfriend.
Mr Sotomayo worked as a brand manager at gay travel agency AlandCHUCK.travel in Sarasota, Florida, and consulting agency Inward Strategic Consulting, according to his Facebook page.
He was in charge of the "Drag Stars at Sea" cruise, which featured stars of the popular reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.
For Melbourne journalist Brendan Bale, who went on the cruise with Sotomayor from South Hampton to Barcelona last year, he was a tour guide that quickly became a good friend. "I haven't done a lot of overseas travel and just having someone there that was willing to listen and help while being a friend as well ... he's such a sweet guy," Mr Bale recalls.
Mr Sotomayo's friend and boss at Al Ferguson reports that Mr Sotomayo invited him to the club 23 minutes before the attack, sending him a video of himself at the party.
Mr Sotomayor's cousin, David Sotomayor, told The Associated Press that the two men discovered they were related after they met at an annual Gay Days festival ten years ago.
They last saw each other early this year at a filming of RuPaul's Drag Race.
"You never think that's going to be the last time you speak to him," David said. "It's just heartbreaking to know it just can happen anytime."
Friends of Mr Sotomayor, who was known for wearing a top hat, have donned the hat in his memory, and a performance for the RuPaul's Drag Race show was also dedicated to him.
Luis Vielman
Luis Vielman, victim of Orlando shooting. Photo: Facebook
Author of the Harry Potter series J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to pay tribute to Luis Vielman, 20.
Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/Nz2ZCWxNsS— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 13, 2016
Mr Vielman has been described by friends as a "genuine, down to earth, and silly guy" who "always had a positive outlook on life".
He worked at Universal Studies in Orlando as a production assistant at Disaster Studios and a rides attendant at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, according to his Facebook page.
Mr Vielma posted a photo of himself with a group of friends at Disney World in front on June 11, writing: "True friends who became family".
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez
The 50-year-old was at the club with another two friends, the Orlando Weekly reports.
The oldest of the victims so far, Mr Velazquez reportedly worked as a visual merchandiser at the store Forever 21, and was a professional Jiabro dancer who travelled the world.
Juan Ramon Guerrero, Orlando shooting victim. Photo: Facebook
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, was a student at the University of Central Florida and worked as a telemarketer, his cousin, Robert Guerrero, told Local News 10.
"He was always this amazing person ... he was like a big brother to me," Robert said of his cousin. "He was never the type to go out to parties, would rather stay home and care for his niece and nephew."
Guerrero's boyfriend, Christopher "Drew" Leinonem was with him at the nightclub during the shooting, according to the New York Times.
Drew reportedly met Mr. Guerrero at the University of Central Florida in Orlando while Mr. Guerrero was a student there. Drew's name has not yet appeared on the victim list.
Juan Ramon Guerrero. He was out dancing with his boyfriend. His boyfriend is still unaccounted for. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/yYOnm8tez5— Liz González (@LizKMPH) June 13, 2
Eddie Justice
Mina Justice's son Eddie was in a bathroom at the Pulse club. He hasn't been found. Photo: AP
"Mommy I love you. In club they shooting."
"He's coming. I'm gonna die."
These are some of the final texts a mother received from her terrified son as he hid inside a bathroom at a Florida nightclub as a gunman opened fire and moved towards the room.
Mina Justice was outside the club trying to contact her son Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, when she shared with reporters some of the texts he sent her during the shooting.
The City of Orlando victims blog confirmed the 30-year-old had died in the attack.
A crowdfunding campaign to raise money for victims has raised almost $US1.4 million in 22 hours, becoming the fastest campaign to clear the $US1 million mark in GoFundMe's six-year history.
Full list of victims (Source: City of Orlando)
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
