ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of people have donated to funds set up to support the families of those killed or injured Sunday morning in a mass shooting at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub.
Police identified 29-year-old Omar Mateen, an American, as the gunman who opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub. The shooting claimed at least 50 lives and left 53 injured. Mateen later died in a shootout with a SWAT team, investigators said.
As people nationwide worked to process news of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, Equality Florida and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida started a pair of separate GoFundMe campaigns to support the victims and their families. Both groups are civil rights organizations focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
By 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Equality Florida had raised more than $848,000 on its GoFundMe page. The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida raised more than $140,000 on its GoFundMe page.
Both funds were verified and earmarked to go toward multiple groups supporting victims of the Pulse shooting.
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"We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country," Equality Florida said in a statement. "Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) history. They were often the only safe gather place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. … We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger."
More than 21,000 people had contributed to the Equality Florida campaign by 8:15 p.m. The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida had more than 3,500 people contribute to its fund.
Authorities continued to investigate the shooting Sunday.
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