us now from the great city of orlando is the first openly gay city commissioner in that city, patty sheehan sheehan, thank you for joining us. i know there are a lot of demands on your time, i really appreciate you being here. >> thank you, rachel. it's been an exhausting 48 hours but that's nothing compared to what these families and victims have been through. >> how are the families and the victims themselves, your constituents directly affected by this, how are people coping now? >> they're having a terrible time. i mean, we've gotten resources. we had to get translators, a lot of these folks are hispanic and getting them the resources that they need. but it's just horrible. these families are just absolutely devastated. they're in shock. i was walking the streets and saw a mother looking for her son and it's the most heartbreaking thing. then she finally found out that he had passed. it was just -- it was just horrifying. you know, so many good people have lost their kids. these were young people, their whole lives ahead of them. we're doing what we can. i never thought as a city commis

us now from the great city of orlando is the first openly gay city commissioner in that city, patty sheehansioner sheehan, thank you for joining us. i know there are a lot of demands on your time, i really appreciate you being here. >> thank you, rachel. it's been an exhausting 48 hours but that's nothing compared to what these families and victims have been through. >> how are the families and the victims themselves, your constituents directly affected by this, how are people coping now? >> they're having a terrible time. i mean, we've gotten resources. we had to get translators, a lot of these folks are hispanic and getting them the resources that they need. but it's just horrible. these families are just absolutely devastated. they're in shock. i was walking the streets and saw a mother looking for her son and it's the most heartbreaking thing. then she finally found out that he had passed. it was just -- it was just horrifying. you know, so many good people have lost their kids. these were young people, their whole lives ahead of them. we're doing what we can. i never thought as a city

with me now is orlando city commissioner patty sheehan, she is orlando's first openly gay commissionerood to see you. >> thank you. >> unfortunately under these kinds of circumstances. >> horrible circumstances. i've been an lgbt activist for 30 years and i've seen a change in the community. i think this has been a real -- there's been ripples and waves as things have happened where we've been able to get equality, little bits and pieces here and there from nondiscrimination and public accommodation housing and employment to you know, to marriage. but i think this situation has been the most outporing of support. we still had people that were not in favor of our rights, they were silenced or actually attacking the lgbt community. what i have seen over the past week has been people who were ordinarily you know just enemies of my community actually sometimes apologizing, embracing us. and i don't care if people do the right thing for the wrong reason, i frankly don't care, as long as they do the right thing. i think this has opened the hearts and minds, because they weren't just lgbt, th

you had patty sheehan on earlier. she's been shaken to the core as has our community. it's a reminder of the work we need to do. there is a connection of the dots. we have a lot of dots to connect, but one of the things that we have to do is remind people and educate people that we are stronger by our diversity and that there is no place for religious extremism that does not allow people to simply exist. we've seen this not just by the way in the muslim community. we saw in jerusalem an attack on an lgbt community center by religious fanatics. we have seen it in russia, almost government condoned attacks on lgbt communities. we have to redouble our efforts on education. june 12th needs to be in the memory of these amazing people who we have lost last night, this morning, we have to in their memory redouble our efforts. we don't who the next steve jobs or the next tim cook of these 50 souls that was taken from us. we must redouble our efforts to make sure that lgbt hate-focused violence and violence towards any minority community is snubbed out. >> to your first point,

orlando commissioner patty sheehan. she goes to pulse nightclubs, she's friends with the owner. thank you for stopping with us and taking some time with us. my condolences to you and that entire community down there. have you spoken to your friend, the owner of pulse today? >> i have not talked to barbara yet. i can't imagine what she's going through. it's just been, you know, it's been -- it's been crazy all morning, to be quite honest. i've just really concentrated my efforts this morning and you know, my community, people want to have vi dpchltgils and do th like that. the law enforcement officials right now are working very hard. they have been basically, you know, they are going to be on this 24 hours, and right now we don't need to stretch law enforcement any thinner than they already have. this was a heroic on behalf of the orlando police department. there is officers everywhere here. we have people inside. it's a horrific scene. it's the largest mass shooting in american history. a horrible thing for orlando to have happen here. but you know, right now it's just a lot. t

gabe ti orlando commissioner patty sheehan. she goes to pulse nightclubs, she's friends with the owner. thank you for stopping with us and taking some time with us. my condolences to you and that entire community down there. have you spoken to your friend, the owner of pulse today? >> i have not talked to barbara yet. i can't imagine what she's going through. it's just been, you know, it's been -- it's been crazy all morning, to be quite honest. i've just really concentrated my efforts this morning and you know, my community, people want to have vi dpchltgils and do th like that. the law enforcement officials right now are working very hard. they have been basically, you know, they are going to be on this 24 hours, and right now we don't need to stretch law enforcement any thinner than they already have. this was a heroic on behalf of the orlando police department. there is officers here. we have people inside. it's a horrific scene. it's the largest mass shooting in american history. a horrible thing for orlando to have happen

joining me, orlando city commissioner patty sheehan and sentinel reporter paul brinkman. thank you for being with us. first of all, what is going on in your mind now. you have been working around the clock ever since this happened, you represent this community. >> first elected gay official, i have deep ties to the club. >> you know the owner. >> they hosted events for the community. >> for me, fund-raisers for me, very gracious and wonderful people, very supportive. >> do you see this changing the community in any way? i talked to so many young gay lesbians at the club or friends of those at the club, though they're fearful say it makes them want to walk taller, stand taller, hold hands in public and be more present than they have been. >> i am not getting a sense of fear, i am getting a sense of grief, i just came from a church service at my church. i think people are really grieving. i also see a change. there are ministers and people that have never been supportive in the gay community of the lgbt community, they could care less. they are nasty. now they're getting to

patty sheehan is orlando's first openly block commissioner, and she joins us.r these circumstances. >> i am, too. this is a horrible day for victims and families. not all the notifications have been made. for the folks out of state, we're trying to get notifications out. some of the poor families -- >> hiare still waiting. this is the largest crime scene we've had to process in noirld. the fbi is the lead investigation. we have to follow the proper protocol. >> it's at largest mass here we know. you were telling us that you know pulse. what can you tell us about the club? >> this is a great club, a nice clay. a lot of gay clubs could be seedy. but the owner of the club wanted to make this really nice pause it was in honor of her brother who passed in age. she's a wonderful person in this community. the fact this this happened in her club. she's devastated. >> you've been there. >> many time. we've had political fund-raisers this. area very supportive of the lgbt community. wonderful people. it's heartbreaking that someone would pick this club in the heart of ou

i want to bring in orlando city commissioner patti sheehan. thank you so much for being here with me. you are the first openly gay commissioner in the city of orlando. >> yes. >> so this deeply affects you. >> it's very devastating for my community. you know, not just the families that were affected in the nightclub. my community as a whole is in mourning. people wanted to have a vigil and we said no, we need law enforcement resources here. we had to take some officers to the park last night because people had a vigil anyway. we're really encouraged by the things people are doing nationally and internationally. some of these officers have been on duty 24 hours straight. they're working very hard. it's very hot outside and i'm so proud of them, and i have to tell you, there could have been a lot more casualties if not for the heroic efforts of the orlando police department. they did an amazing job. there's been some criticism, you know, why didn't they move in faster? the gunman shot, then he was leaving and then he went back in and then he had

. >> joining me now is patty sheehan, orlando's first openly gay commissioner. i know this is particularly personal. you know the owner of the nightclub. >> i have been in this nightclub, there but for the grace of god go i. this is a horrible tragedy, this is basically one of our main streets in orlando, this is just blocks from city hall. a lot of small businesses and this is a horrible tragedy. the fact that they picked lat teen night. this is when everybody gets along and embraces one another. i think the terrorists were trying to strike at the heart of that, but they're not going to, because they are a loving community in orlando. and they are not going to take that away. you look down are these business owners and they are bringing food and water and all this to people. it's an incredible outpouring of love and support. >> i was watching people trying to figure out the status of they loved ones. talk about that anguish? >> i saw some of them on the street this morning, it was just horrible. and we're trying to do what we can. but when you lose someone like

. >> joining me now is patty sheehan, orlando's first openly gay commissioner. i know this is particularly personal. you know the owner of the nightclub. >> i have been in this nightclub, there but for the grace of god go i. this is a horrible tragedy, this is basically one of our main streets in orlando, this is just blocks from city hall. a lot of small businesses and this is a horrible tragedy. the fact that they picked lat teen night. this is when everybody gets along and embraces one another. i think the terrorists were trying to strike at the heart of that, but they're not going to, because they are a loving community in orlando. and they are not going to take that away. you look down the street, there are these business owners and they are bringing food and water and all this to people. it's an incredible outpouring of love and support. >> i was watching people trying to figure out the status of they loved ones. talk about that anguish? >> i saw some of them on the street this morning, it was just horrible. and we're trying to do what we can. but when you

mikes this morning, including the governor rick scott, the state senator and now city commissioner patty sheehan, talking about this horrible shooting at the orlando nightclub. it bills itself as the premiere gay nightclub in that city. it's the scene of the nation's worst mass shooting, considered a terror attack which makes it the deadliest since september 11th. at least 50 people were killed, 53 others injured. it happened around 2:00 this morning florida time. the suspected shooter has been identified as 29-year-old omar mateen. he was born in point st. lucie, florida. that's about two hours away from orlando. officers shot and killed him inside that club. they say he was known to law enforcement, but was not the target of any investigation. investigators are calling this an act of terrorism. it may also be a hate crime because it targeted that gay nightclub. facebook has activated their safety check now for people to alert their friends and family that they are safe. governor rick scott declared a state of emergency just a few minutes ago. and the mayor of orlando thanked all agencies invol

of community joining me now, the executive director of the glbt center for central florida and patty sheehanhank you. >> you never know when it's going to hit you. then thant view with angelica, that hit me. that could have been anyone in america. it just doesn't have to be in the gay community. sadly it was. how many millions of people go to clubs on a saturday night, correct? >> yes. >> but it hit the lgbt community really hard. and you said to me last night that orlando has a hole in its heart. how you are feeling tonight? >> well, you know, i just came back from the vigil we had. i was reluctant of going because i didn't want to stretch the law enforcement sources any further. that was an amazing memorial tonight. it really galvanized and brought everybody together. it is something that i needed emotionally to give myself time to experience it. and the community and the sense of love and outpouring and support. they rang a bell for every one of the victims. it was really amazing is how long those bells tolled. >> yeah. >> i thought it was important, terry, in the middle of that interview

. >> joining me now is patty sheehan, orlando's first openly gay commissioner. thank you for being here this evening with us. i know this is particularly personal. you know the owner of the nightclub. >> yes. >> this is your district. >> i have been in this nightclub, there but for the grace of god go i. i could have been out. this is a horrible tragedy, this is basically one of our main streets in orlando, this is just blocks from city hall. a lot of small businesses have been impacted of course and this is a horrible tragedy. and the fact that they picked latin night. this is a community where everybody gets along and everybody embraces one another. i think the terrorists were trying to strike at the heart of that, but they're not going to, because they are a loving community in orlando. we are good people, and this is not going to take that away. you look down the street, there are these business owners and they are bringing food and water and all this to people. it's an incredible outpouring of love and support. >> hay heart went out, watching families earli

commissioner patty sheehan, thank you so much.re's other information you would like to get out or anything else you want to report, please keep us in mind. but thank you, as you head over to that scene. we really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. >> thank you so much. >> many of the eyewitnesses of the orlando nightclub shooting said they couldn't determine if the sounds of gunshots were even part of the music or not before really coming to grips with what was happening in that nightclub. joing me now with more, my colleague, nbc's morgan radford. morgan, what are we hearing from survivors? >> we're hearing harrowing tales of people who had to hide in closets and bathrooms all to escape this gunman who we now know killed 50 people and injured 53. one witness posted on twitter, i jumped out. there's still people hiding inside the closets that the shooters don't know they're in there. these are the types of things we're hearing this morning. i also want to bring your attention to one mother who simply broke down sobbing,

joining us now, patty sheehan, the city's first openly gay elected official. you for joining us. we spoke yesterday, really just hours after this hand. and you were understandably, as were many members of the lgbt community and cities officials in a state of shock. what's the state of this city today? >> we're still in shock but we want to be there for the victims' families. notifications are being made. now everyone is out of the building. everyone has been identified and the -- and now the family notifications are happening. not all families have been notified yet. several of them are out of state. that's why it's taking a while to get the final list of names of people affected. we have to remember, these are not just names. these are people. people's children, brothers and sisters. this is heartbreaking for our community. we want to do what we can to assist. i'm asking people to be careful where they give donations. a lot of unscrupulous people will take advantage and try to steal money, which is beyond awful. we want to make sure to hold off on the vigils

right now there are a series of speakers and on the stage right now is the woman by the name of patty sheehanal speech that this crowd is reacting to. incredibly loudly and that's the cheering that you hear behind me. in a matter of moments here, jim, the candles are beginning to spread their way through the crowd here and as the sun begins to set, the candles will be lit and culminating in a very emotional evening here in orlando. >> yeah. just that mood, as i'm hearing there, i'm hearing cheers. i have to say i'm almost surprised to see it. i've spent many days down there and i know people are hopeful and they're strong. orlando strong and that hash tag has had a lot of meaning, but it seems a more positive mood than i'd expect and perhaps a sign of hope in that. >> yeah, i think so. we spoke with the organizers of this event and it's really a way of showing solidarity with the families and the victims and the survivors who have been so affected by all of this, but also extending a hand, i think, in their view to show them that hey, look, bee have a lot of friends here. you have a lot of pe

and joining me now, patty sheehan, central florida's first openly gay commissioner here in orlando. and we have blue star who worked at pulse nightclub for six years. you, too, have hugged four or five times just stance standing here. >> this is the first time we've seen even other since this happened. we live in different places, and we're good friends. >> had you several friends who were there. >> yes. >> that night. likely lost some friends. >> yes. >> what are you hearing, what are you feeling a block from the club. >> i sit here two days ago and i have to tell you standing here two days later, it gives me the same feeling. i walked away from this site two days ago, with maybe the heaviest heart i've ever had in my entire life. i have concern for my friends, i have concern for the city. i have concern for our patrons. i have concern once all of this is said and done, and we start to try to act as a community again, how it's going to affect people. because the effect is -- is really strong. even standing here with you right now. >> but i think it's up to us, victor and blue, i th

joining me now is patty sheehan, she's the orlando commissioner in district 4. you groaned when i said that. it's awful to hear. >> i am the first openly gay elected official in central florida and for something like this to happen in my community and people are minh myselfing t minimizing that it happened to the gay community and they have latin nights and themed nights and this is a very accepting neighborhood and the fact that they came here and this business district is known as the main street. we're very proud of this area. it was a horrible, horrible thing to happen here. >> how did you hear about it, patty? >> they got a call first thing this morning and my first thing -- there was an outcry from the gay community and they said let's do a vigil and pull back. law enforcement is trying to do their job and they need to take care of these families and that's the hard thing, it's like, i know people want to do things, but right now it's about these families and it's about -- we're still getting people out of the building and it's very, very sad. >> i know. w

i'm joined now by orlando city commissioner patty sheehan and g.l.a.d. ceo sara ellis. not only are you a city official in orlando, you're also part of the gay community here in orlando. a community that i believe has to feel targeted this morning. >> it's the heart of my district and, of course, yes, many people in the community are just horrified by this violence that's happened in our community. we've never had something of this scale before, and it's just a horrible day in orlando. but i'm really encouraged by the number of blood donations. the community coming together and just the outpouring of love and support internationally. >> you know, i have been told by many it's a gay-friendly city. it's a pop. >> very much so. we're 100% on the human rights index. our mayor is wonderful, a wonderful ally in the gay community. we've passed discriminations and public accommodation, housing, employment. we had the first gay marriage ceremony in florida on the steps of city hall. we're a welcoming community. >> when you're dealing with 350 people inside that club on saturday

orlando commissioner patty sheehan. she goes to pulse nightclubs, she's friends with the owner. thank you for stopping with us and taking some time with us. my condolences to you and that entire community down there. have you spoken to your friend, the owner of pulse today? >> i have not talked to barbara yet. i can't imagine what she's going through. it's just been, you know, it's been -- it's been crazy all morning, to be quite honest. i've just really concentrated my efforts this morning and you know, my community, people want to have vi dpchltgils and do th like that. the law enforcement officials right now are working very hard. they have been basically, you know, they are going to be on this 24 hours, and right now we don't need to stretch law enforcement any thinner than they already have. this was a heroic on behalf of the orlando police department. there is officers everywhere here. we have people inside. it's a horrific scene. it's the largest mass shooting in american history. a horrible thing for orlando to have happen here. but you know, right now it's just a lot. t

right now let's bring in orlando the police commissioner patty sheehan who has intimate knowledge of this community and its reaction and also nick hornsteen who witnessed the immediate aftermath of the shooting and heard the barrage of gunfire inside the pulse nightclub. nick, we know this has been a very long night. thank you for joining us. if you could, just give us a sense of how the night changed? it goes from late at night to midnight to 1:00 in the morning, 2:00 in the morning, that's when the pulse closes. then what? >> so when the gunfire rang out i was asleep in my friend's apartment, and awakened from the gunfire from the original shooter. >> and, nick what did you do then? this is, i think, your video. so you're looking out the window, and -- we can hear -- your video allows us to hear the barrage of gunfire. tell us what were doing and seeing? >> at that point i'd been awake for a bit. i got up, looked out the window and you could just see chaos, people running, screaming, trying to find their loved ones and friends n. that video was around 5:00, when the standoff was en

. >>> tomorrow, orlando's first openly gay commissioner, patty sheehan, shares thoughts in the wake oflocal news is coming up. >>> i'm meg oliver with k >>> i'm meg oliver with a look beyond this morning's headlines. in the hours after the mass shooting in orlando, a tweet from a texas state leader caused outrage. >> reporter: at 7 a a.m., this tweet came from texas lieutenant governor dan patrick's twitter account. >> given what had happened was a callous, and inappropriate. >> reporter: a move seen as heartless by the ceo of equality texas. >> they were killed for no other reason than who they were. >> reporter: it was an emotional morning for chuck smith. >> lgbtq bars have a historic in our community as a safe place. that's where people who are the victims of discrimination, or interest homophobia, or transphobia in their lives, gay bars are where people go away from that. >> reporter: the tweet was deleted. and he said, lieutenant governor patrick, and every texan is stunned. and be assured that the post was not done in response to last night's tragedy. the post was designed and s

. >> that was patty sheehan, the first openly gay elected official who used to go to the pulse nightclubs conference giving an update on the nightclub shooting. joining us now from orlando, mayor buddy dyer. mr. mayor, thank you for joining us. there was discussion about taking care of the families still right now being notified about what's happened. update us on how that is happening. >> well, after we secured the scene, the most important thing in our mind was to identify the victims and then make notification to the families. so that process is the fbi in conjunction for the department of law enforcement and the medical examiner. we've now been able to identify 48 of the 49 victims and have made notification to the next 24. and what they do is send out teams of either opd or fle and grief counselors, advocates. it's a tough process. >> willie? >> mayor dyer, it's willie geist. good to talk to you again today. just for broadly, the pulse of, forgive the word, the pulse of orlando right now. it's the darkest day in your history probably yesterday. how are you all doing this morning? >>

. >> pat shi sheehan is orlando's first openly day commissioner, and she joins us now. patty first, all the dead have now been identified. >> yes. >> families are being notified. >> yes. >> how are people coping with this? >> well, you know, i just came back from a huge rally down at the orlando performing arts center. it was a really amazing time to bring the community together. i was frankly reluctant at first to do it because i was afraid of putting more people in peril and stretching a thin law enforcement resources. but it was actually really, really wonderful. there are people who are in the muslim community. there are people from all different walks of life, and it was just really affirming. there was a candlelight vigil, and i have to tell you they were ringing a bell for every victim. and it was stunning. >> very moving. >> it was very moving, and how long it took to ring that bell for every victim. >> 49 victims. >> yes. >> do we have any idea -- do you have an idea why the gunman, mateen, would target the pulse nightclub because we're now hearing from police source