EP. 251 - FLORIDA: THE PULSE MASSACRE, PART FOUR: THE PULSE BEATS ON

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Murder In America 1h 41m 3 speakers 4 chapters transcribed 2 months ago
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Colin Browen 0:00
Warning, the following podcast is not suitable for all audiences. We go into great detail with every case that we cover and do our best to bring viewers even deeper into the stories by utilizing disturbing audio and sound effects.
Courtney Browen 0:12
Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.
Colin Browen 0:18
This podcast is not for everyone. You have been warned.
Courtney Browen 0:22
When the world woke up on June 12th, 2016, they were faced with headlines full of words that have become more and more common. Mass shooting, massacre, hate crime. As the number of victims began to climb throughout the morning and afternoon, the shooting earned a new title at the time, the most deadly mass shooting in US history. 49 lives gone in one night in a targeted violent attack. That afternoon, Florida Governor Rick Scott posted on Twitter saying, quote, this is an attack on our people, an attack on Orlando, an attack on Florida, an attack on America, an attack on all of us, end quote. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, one question was louder than all the rest. And to this day, it's a question that truly hasn't been answered.
Courtney Browen 1:16
Why? Why did the gunman arm himself with two guns, walk into Pulse nightclub and change the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people? To some, it was a clear terrorist attack. To others, it was an attack on the LGBTQ community, a clear hate crime. But in today's episode, we are going to walk you through the aftermath of this tragedy, which is the final part of our Pulse series. So with that, I'm Courtney Browen.
Colin Browen 1:45
And I'm Colin Browen.
Courtney Browen 1:47
and you're listening to Murder in America.
Colin Browen 2:50
June 12, 2016 and the days that followed carried a heaviness that, back then, just 10 years ago, felt very new.

How did the nation and leaders respond in the immediate aftermath of the Pulse massacre?

Colin Browen 2:58
This was before Parkland, before the Vegas shooting, before Sutherland Springs or Uvalde or Lewiston. There had been mass shootings before, but a shooting of this scale was earth-shattering. 27 people had died at Sandy Hook in 2012, 32 at Virginia Tech in 2007, But by midday on June 12th, those numbers had been surpassed by Pulse. There was a new dark record set that day in US history books. Early reports said 35, then 40, then 45, before finally landing at 49 deaths as a result of the Pulse nightclub shooting. It was unlike anything the US had seen, and with it came the panic, the questions, the fear. Why had this happened? How? People wanted answers. And by 1.30 p.m., less than 12 hours after the Pulse nightclub shooting had begun, President Barack Obama stepped into the White House briefing room to try and provide them for the first time.
Unknown 3:57
Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder, a horrific massacre of dozens of innocent people.
Colin Browen 4:08
We pray for the families who are grasping for answers with broken hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando. who have endured a terrible attack on their city. Although it's still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people. I just finished a meeting with FBI Director Comey and my Homeland Security and National Security advisors. The FBI is on the scene and leading the investigation in partnership with local law enforcement. I've directed that the full resources of the federal government be made available for this investigation.
Unknown 4:57
We are still learning all the facts. This is an open investigation. We've reached no definitive judgment on the precise motivations of the killer.
Courtney Browen 5:08
Behind the scenes, investigators were still looking for answers. Meanwhile, the nation was grieving the loss of 49 lives. On Sunday, June 19th, 2026, more than 20,000 people attended a vigil at Lake Eola in Orlando. But the support wasn't just shown in Orlando. From coast to coast, vigils and memorials popped up. offering mourners a place to come together and pay their respects. These vigils were held in New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Daytona Beach, San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, and even overseas.

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