Johannesburg - A man believed to be from Benoni was among the 49 people killed in the Orlando mass shooting .
The mass murder by suspected terrorist Omar Saddiqui Mateen in a Florida gay nightclub has sent shockwaves across the world.
Officials said on Sunday the death toll was 50. On Monday, they clarified that the figure included Mateen. Fifty-three people were wounded and 29 remain hospitalised at Orlando Regional Medical Centre, the hospital said on Twitter.
The City of Orlando has released names and ages of victims of the nightclub shooting whose next of kin have been contacted. The name Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz was among them. In his Facebook profile, the 22-year-old Gonzalez-Cruz identifies himself as Peter Ommy, and mentions Benoni as his hometown.
Gonzalez-Cruz’s profile also indicates that he has lived in Batam, Ouham, Central African Republic and attended Colonia High School in New Jersey in the US between 2010 and 2013.
As the names of the victims were released, many took to social media to express their grief and send condolences.
Among them was @briydg who tweeted: “Rest in peace to my wonderful cousin Peter Ommy who was killed in the #Pulse shooting. Keep slaying up in heaven. #PrayForOrlando.”
@DearMariaPTV aslo tweeted: “#rip my cousin Peter Ommy, may you rest easy in heaven ?? #PulseShooting #Orlando”
On Monday, the government said it had contacted the US Embassy in Washington to verify if Gonzalez-Cruz was South African. “Our embassies in Washington DC and New York City are working with the authorities to find out more. No South African family has come forward to enquire about Gonzalez-Cruz,” Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Nelson Kgwete said.
He said Pretoria had not been notified about any victim from South Africa. “We have also not received any enquiries in South Africa with regard to this matter. However, we are in constant communication with our embassies.”
The Star