Bodies removed after worst mass shooting in US history

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Dozens of bodies were slowly removed overnight from a popular Orlando gay club after a gunman sprayed the helpless crowd with bullets in violence that killed 50 people and devastated a city famous for family-friendly theme parks.
When the attacker opened fire in the early hours of Sunday morning, it interrupted an evening of drinking, dancing and drag shows at a club known for tolerance for all people.
Authorities say suspect Omar Mateen emerged, carrying an AR-15 and fired relentlessly — 20 rounds, 40, then 50 and more. In such tight quarters, the bullets could hardly miss. He shot at police. He took hostages.
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When the gunfire at the Pulse Orlando club finally stopped, 50 people were dead and dozens critically wounded in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Mateen, who authorities said had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a 911 around the time of the attack, died in a gun battle with SWAT team members.
"I've always felt so safe here for my family, kids. And now, I don't know," said Marlon Massey, who lives across the street from the club.
Authorities are wondering if it was an act of terrorism and are probing the background of Mateen, a 29-year-old American citizen from Fort Pierce, Florida, who had worked as a security guard. The gunman's father recalled that his son recently got angry when he saw two men kissing in Miami and said that might be related to the assault.
Thirty-nine of the dead were killed at the club, and 11 people died at hospitals, Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

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A man who was injured in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub cries as he attends a memorial service at the Joy MCC Church for the victims of the terror attack where Omar Mateen allegedly killed more than 50 people on June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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Mourners attend a memorial service at the Joy MCC Church for the victims of the terror attack at the the Pulse nightclub, June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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Orlando residents Arissa Suarez and Malcom Crawson attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park for victims of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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Friends and family grieve after a list of hospitalized victims was released, implying the death of those who weren't on the list and hadn't been heard from, outside a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel near the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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A man prays during a prayer service for shooting victims at the Baitul-Aafiyatr Mosque, on June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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Marselle Ball gathers with other residents at Jones High School for a vigil to remember those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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Karen Castelloes, left, and Judy Rettig cry during a prayer vigil at Joy Metropolitan Community Church after a fatal shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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Friends and family grieve after a list of hospitalized victims was released, implying the death of those who weren't on the list and hadn't been heard from, outside a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel near the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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People from the office of the medical examiner investigate on the west side of Pulse nightclub where a gunman opened fire on Sunday morning, June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

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People receive information about the Pulse nightclub shooting outside the hotel where family members are gathering in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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Police forensics investigators work at the crime scene of a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.

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Supported by a friend, a man weeps for victims of the mass shooting just a block from the scene in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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People pray near the scene of a shooting that with at least 50 fatalities at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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A woman prays at a site about a block from the Pulse nightclub in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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Angel Mendez, standing outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center, holds up a cell phone photo trying to get information about his brother Jean C. Mendez, in Orlando, Fla, on June 12, 2016.

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A person weeps outside the hotel where family members are gathering in Orlando, Fla., after a mass shooting on June 12, 2016.

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Women pray near the area of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., June 12, 2016.

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Hundreds of community members line up outside a clinic to donate blood after an early morning shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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An injured man is escorted out of the Pulse nightclub after a shooting rampage, Sunday morning June 12, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.

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Bomb disposal officers check for bombs at the apartment complex of a suspect linked to the fatal shootings at an Orlando nightclub, June 12, 2016, in Fort Pierce, Fla. 

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Christine Leinonen waits outside of the Orlando Regional Medical Center for information about her son Chris who is missing after a fatal shooting and hostage situation at Pulse nightclub, June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Fla.

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Volunteers Clinton Grubb, left, Brittani Acuff, center, and others gather at The Center, a LGBT organization, to provide assistance and counseling to the community after an early morning shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the LGBT Center of Central Florida, left, Kelvin Cobaris, pastor of The Impact Church, center, and Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan console each other after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016.

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Local, state and federal law enforcement in front of the house owned by the parents of Omar Mateen in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Mateen is the suspected gunman in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left at least 50 dead.

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People hold a vigil outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

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Volunteers line up to donate blood for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at One Blood, in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. The line of people waiting to give blood stretched around the building.

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Jennifer Nicholson, left, and Mina Justice head to a briefing for family members at the Orlando Regional Medical Center after a fatal shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016. Justice's son Eddie had called her while hiding in the bathroom of the Pulse Orlando nightclub during the shooting.

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FBI agents seen outside of Pulse Orlando nightclub after a fatal shooting and hostage situation on June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Fla. The suspected shooter, Omar Mateen, was shot and killed by police.

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A police officer stands guard outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital after a fatal shooting at a nearby Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016.

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Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub, June 12, 2016.

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Concerned friends and family of victims of the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting wait outside of the Orlando Police Department on Sunday, June 12, 2016. 

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Brandon Shuford  waits down the street from the scene of a shooting involving multiple fatalities at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., June 12, 2016.

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Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a deadly shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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Demetrice Naulings sobs outside the Orlando Police Headquarters, where police were interviewing witnesses in the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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People wait outside the emergency entrance of the Orlando Regional Medical Center after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016

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Law enforcement agencies and local city representatves give a news conference on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in the wake of a mass-casualty shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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Orlando police officers seen outside the Pulse Orlando nightclub after a fatal shooting and hostage situation on June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.

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Emergency personnel wait with stretchers at the emergency entrance to Orlando Regional Medical Center for the arrival of patients from the scene of a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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An Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT team member arrives at the scene of a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12.

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Police cars surround the Pulse Orlando nightclub, the scene of a fatal shooting, in Orlando, Fla.

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Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT team members arrive to a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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Bystanders wait down the street from a deadly shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday. A gunman opened fire at a nightclub in central Florida, killing approximately 20 people and wounding more than 40 others, police said Sunday.

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Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

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Sunday night, workers were removing bodies four at a time on stretchers out of the club and loaded them into white vans. The action was repeated over and over. The covered bodies were taken to the County Medical Examiner's office.
Jon Alamo had been dancing at the Pulse for hours when he wandered into the club's main room just in time to see the gunman. "You ever seen how Marine guys hold big weapons, shooting from left to right? That's how he was shooting at people," he said.
"My first thought was, oh my God, I'm going to die," Alamo said. "I was praying to God that I would live to see another day."
Pulse patron Eddie Justice texted his mother, Mina: "Mommy I love you. In club they shooting." About 30 minutes later, hiding in a bathroom, he texted her: "He's coming. I'm gonna die."
Justice's would eventually be added to the city's list of those killed in the shooting.
At least 53 people were hospitalized, most in critical condition, and a surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center said the death toll was likely to climb.
The previous deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. was the 2007 attack at Virginia Tech, where a student killed 32 people before killing himself.
Mateen's family was from Afghanistan, and he was born in New York. His family later moved to Florida, authorities said.