Orlando shooting victims’ names released

Officials in Orlando are working their way through the carnage left in the wake of a mass shooting, and have started releasing the names of victims.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire on some 350 partygoers at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. Fifty people were killed and more than 53 injured before police officers killed the shooter. The massacre is now considered the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history.

The City of Orlando has set up a website with a growing list of the victims’ names after their next of kin were contacted:

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Sotomayor was a national brand manager for Al and Chuck Travel, self-described as “part of America’s largest gay owned travel company.”

“He was one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met,” one of Sotomayor’s friends, Jason Howell, told PEOPLE. “He touched so many people’s lives because he’s such a positive person. He would do anything for anybody.”

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Almodovar worked as a pharmacy technician and lived in Clermont, Fla., according to his Facebook profile.

“In shock that my boo is gone I will miss your smile your fierce gaze your laugh. Sorry this happened to you little sis. Rest in peace my angel. My condolences & prayers to your family & friends,” a friend wrote on Almodovar’s Facebook page.

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20

Luis went by Omar Capo on social media, and worked as a barista in a Target Starbucks in Kissimmee, Fla.

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22

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A photo posted by Juan Guerrero (@juang0628) on Jul 19, 2015 at 1:44pm PDT

Guerrero came out to his family this year, but they weren’t very accepting, the victim’s cousin told WESH-TV. He worked as a telemarketer and was a student at the University of Central Florida.

“He was always this amazing person [and] he was like a big brother to me,” Robert Guerrero said.

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

He went by Eric Ortiz, and had moved to Florida from Puerto Rico to boost his career. He worked in merchandise management, first for Toys “R” Us and then for Ross, the Orlando Sentinel reported. He had a Bachelor’s degree in communciations fromUnivercidad Central de Bayamon.

“Eric was always willing to help everybody. He sacrificed himself a lot for his family,” said his former roommate, Abismel Colon Gomez. “He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.”

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Cruz, known as ‘Peter Ommy’ on social media, is originally from New Jersey, the Orlando Sentinel reported. He had attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township from 2010 to 2013 before moving to Orlando, where he worked for UPS.

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Vielma, pictured left, worked at Universal Orlando Resort, according to his Facebook page.

His friend, Will Randle, told the Miami Herald Vielma was “the best person” he knew.

“He inherently made us all better people by simply existing around us,” Randle said. “Part of him will always live on in every good decision I make.”

Kimberly Morris, 37

Morris, known to friends and on social media as ‘KJ,’ was originally from Torrington, Conn., according to her Facebook profile.

Morris worked as a bouncer at Pulse. In fact, it was her first week on the job, and had only recently moved from Hawaii to Orlando, NBC Connecticut reported.

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30

Who was Eddie Jamoldroy Justice? The 30-year-old accountant was among the Orlando shooting victims and his last texts to his mother are so sad. In the midst of the frightening events that took place inside Pulse nightclub, Justice managed to text his mother from a bathroom inside the venue. “Mommy I love you,” Justice sent to his mother, Mina Justice, at approximately 2:06 a.m., the Associated Press reported. Mina told AP that she was fast asleep when this first text arrived. “In club they shooting,” Justice typed out and sent to his mother next. After Mina texted Justice asking if he was ok, at 2:07 a.m. Justice responded that he was trapped in the bathroom. Then, at 2:08 a.m., Justice sent his mother the one text no parent ever wants to read: “I’m going to die.” At this point, Mina told AP, she realized Justice was in danger, so she called 911. Justice was one of the numerous individuals held hostage inside the nightclub bathroom during the horrifying attack. At 2:39 a.m. Justice texted his mother saying, “Call them Mommy.” Minutes later he followed up: “He’s coming. I’m gonna die.” Mina remembered her son as someone who liked to make people laugh, she told AP. Justice worked as an accountant and lived in a condo in downtown Orlando. “Lives in a sky house, like the Jeffersons,” Mina told AP. “He lives rich.” Mina waited more than 15 hours after receiving her son’s last text to get confirmation that he was one of the casualties in the attack.

A photo posted by 11.4k Proud Kings and Queens ? (@proudblackroots) on Jun 13, 2016 at 2:42am PDT

Justice’s mother, Mina, was featured in early news reports Sunday. Her son had sent her a string of harrowing text messages as the gunman moved through Pulse, Gay Star News reported.

“Mommy I love you. In club they shooting,” he wrote.

Justice moved to the bathroom, where he tried to hide with others.

“Call them mommy…now.”

“I’m tell I’m bathroom.”

“He’s coming … I’m gonna die.”

“Still here in bathroom. He has us. They need to come get us. Hurry. He’s in the bathroom with us…He’s a terror.”

Justice was later confirmed dead.

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29

Burt lived in Jacksonville, Fla., and worked as a financial-aid officer at Kaiser University, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Darryl was a highly respected employee and friend,” said Vice Chancellor Kelli Lane. “His contributions to our students and his colleagues will not be forgotten.

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Amanda Alvear, 25

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31