From Staff Reports
In Summary:
The Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, claimed 49 lives and wounded dozens more, forever changing Central Florida. Among the victims were Apopka residents Eddie Jamoldroy Justice and Miguel Angel Honorato, whose deaths brought the tragedy close to home for many local families. As the 10th anniversary approaches, communities across the region continue to remember the victims and reflect on the values of compassion, unity, and acceptance that emerged in the aftermath.
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Nearly a decade after the Pulse nightclub shooting, June 12 remains one of the most painful dates in Central Florida's history.
In the early morning hours of June 12, 2016, a gunman opened fire inside Pulse, an Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring dozens more in what remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. The attack sent shockwaves throughout the region, touching families, workplaces, schools, churches, and neighborhoods across Central Florida, including Apopka.
Related: APD officer recognized for Pulse response.
For residents throughout the area, the tragedy was not a distant event unfolding on television. Many knew someone who was connected to the victims, survivors, first responders, or families forever changed by the attack. The grief that followed crossed city limits and demographics, uniting communities in mourning and reflection.
The shooting occurred during Pride Month and became a defining moment for Orlando and the broader region. Vigils were held across Central Florida as thousands gathered to honor those who were lost and support those left behind. In the days and weeks that followed, messages of love, inclusion, and resilience appeared on buildings, streets, and public spaces throughout the area.
Today, the Pulse tragedy continues to serve as both a memorial and a reminder. It stands as a testament to the devastating consequences of hatred and violence, while also highlighting the strength of communities that come together in times of unimaginable loss.
As Central Florida pauses once again to remember the 49 lives taken that night, the anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect not only on the tragedy itself, but also on the values that emerged in its aftermath: compassion, unity, acceptance, and a commitment to ensuring that every person feels safe, valued, and respected.
For many in Apopka and across the region, June 12 will forever be a day of remembrance—a day to honor those who were lost, support those who continue to heal, and reaffirm the belief that love is stronger than hate.
As part of this remembrance, Central Florida native Cosette Badger wrote and recorded an original song inspired by the 10th anniversary of the Pulse tragedy. Badger, who was 15 years old when the shooting occurred, created the piece from a place of both mourning and hope, reflecting the belief that love, understanding, and our shared humanity can endure even in the face of profound loss.
Remembering the 49
Ten years later, the Pulse tragedy is remembered not by the number of lives lost, but by the people behind those numbers. Among the 49 victims were two Apopka residents, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice and Miguel Angel Honorato. On this anniversary, we pause to remember all 49 individuals whose lives were taken on June 12, 2016.
- Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, Apopka
- Miguel Angel Honorato, 30, Apopka
- Stanley Almodovar III, 23
- Amanda Alvear, 25
- Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
- Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
- Antonio Davon Brown, 29
- Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
- Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
- Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
- Luis Daniel Conde, 39
- Cory James Connell, 21
- Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
- Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
- Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
- Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
- Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
- Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
- Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
- Paul Terrell Henry, 41
- Frank Hernandez, 27
- Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
- Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
- Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25
- Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
- Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
- Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
- Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
- Kimberly Morris, 37
- Akyra Monet Murray, 18
- Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
- Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
- Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
- Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
- Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
- Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
- Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
- Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
- Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24
- Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
- Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
- Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
- Martin Benitez Torres, 33
- Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
- Juan P. Rivera Velázquez, 37
- Luis S. Vielma, 22
- Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50
- Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
- Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
