Heartbreak after heartbreak, Orlando, Florida has seen its share of unbelievable tragedy all in the same week.
On June 10, Christina Grimmie, an up-and-coming singer who got her start on the NBC show, the Voice, was shot after one of her concerts as she was signing autographs at a meet and greet. The shooter is suspected to be an over-obsessive fan who wanted to marry Grimmie. He was carrying "two handguns, two additional loaded magazines and a large hunting knife", according to the Orlando Police Chief, John Mina, as reported by CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/11/entertainment/orland...). In an act of heroism, however, Grimmie's older brother, Marcus Grimmie, deterred the shooter from causing any more harm who eventually fatally shot himself after Grimmie tackled him. Friends, family, and fans of this beloved singer mourned her loss from this tragic and unexpected event.
Not long after Grimmie's shooting, the worst terrorist attack since 9/11 occurred at a gay bar in downtown Orlando. On June 12, an ISIS pledged gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 more. Hospitals suddenly became swamped with so many patients to care for after such a massacre while ISIS praised this horrific act on "pro-Islamic State forums", according to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub...).
A standoff occurred for about three hours as the shooter held hostages inside the club. Police eventually killed him after storming into the building "with an armored vehicle and stun grenades", according to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub...). More information has been released as investigators continue to discover more clues about the shooter's background such as his wife's involvement in carrying out the crime.
Unfortunately, in addition to all of this loss in Orlando, the body of a two-year-old boy who was dragged into a lagoon by an alligator was found on June 15. His family was vacationing at a Disney World Resort. The body of the boy was found to be intact, making sense to alligator expert, Jeff Corwin, who stated, "That gator came in, grabbed that boy, pulled him, the dad startled that gator, the gator let him go and then the boy drowned." As a result, Disney resorts have closed all beaches for the time being.
The hashtag #pray4orlando have surfaced on social media as a result of these tragic events showing how the nation and the world has rallied around Orlando during this time of loss. Many are calling for change in various ways. Please keep the city of Orlando, FL and all those affected by these tragedies in your thoughts and prayers.
