Across the nation and world, people gathered to share their grief and dismay in the aftermath of the deadly attack in Orlando early Sunday. Authorities say 49 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in what is now the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history.
The shooting occurred at Pulse Orlando, a popular gay nightclub, during what is typically an annual time of celebration — Pride month — for the LGBT community. The suspect in the shooting, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, was killed in a gun battle with police as he held hostages inside the nightclub, officials said.
At various events, people turned out in droves to express solidarity with the city of Orlando on Sunday and Monday, making makeshift memorials and holding vigils and moments of silence in honor of the victims and their loved ones.
A man places a candle at an impromptu memorial set up in Sydney on Monday following the Orlando attack. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that the Orlando mass shooting was "an attack on all of us, on all our freedoms, the freedom to gather together, to celebrate, to share time with friends." (Rick Rycroft/AP)Mourners observe a moment of silence during a vigil for victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting on Sunday in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP)A message spelled out in candles is laid out at the vigil in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP)Flags fly at half-staff around the Washington Monument at daybreak in Washington with the U.S. Capitol in the background on Monday. President Obama ordered flags lowered to half-staff to honor the shooting victims. (J. David Ake/AP)A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial in New York. (Andres Kudacki/AP)Two women place flowers for the victims of the fatal shootings at Pulse Orlando nightclub at a makeshift memorial in Orlando, Fla. on Monday. (Chris O'Meara/AP)A man holds a bunch of flowers with small ribbons reading 'Why Hatred? If there is love.' during a vigil in front of the United States embassy in Berlin, German, on Monday to honor the victims. (Markus Schreiber/AP)A woman in New York cries and holds flowers in front of a makeshift memorial to remember the victims. (Andres Kudacki/AP)A man lights a candle during a vigil in front of the U.S. embassy in Santiago, Chile to remember the victims. (Esteban Felix/AP)Rachel Henry, left, and Selene Arciga, kiss to show their solidarity with members and supporters of the LGBT gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of the White House in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)A person places a rose by a flag during a vigil at The Center, a community center for the LGBT community, on Sunday in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)
