Dispatchers Heard Gunshots, Screams, Moans in Pulse 911 Calls

June 28, 2016
Records released Tuesday shed new light on the chaos that 911 dispatchers heard when terrified club-goers called 911 from inside Pulse nightclub.
ORLANDO --Records released Tuesday shed new light on the chaos that 911 dispatchers heard when terrified club-goers called 911 from inside Pulse nightclub more than two weeks ago.

The records also provided details about the gunman's movements during the three hours he held siege over the club.

The first report of shots fired came in 6 seconds before 2:03 a.m. and within a minute Orlando police dispatchers got a call from a man saying he was hiding "upstairs" with six people, records show. The gunshots continued as more club-goers hiding in closets, dressing rooms and bathrooms called for help.

Dispatchers heard screams, shooting and moaning in the background of the calls. No gunshots are reported after 2:18 a.m.

Some callers reported they could see the shooter. Others whispered that they could only hear him getting closer.

In the incident reports, people described wounds and the injuries of those around them: Gunshot wound to the stomach. Gunshot wound to the chest. Shots to the leg and knee. Shots to the arm.

Orlando fire crews were called at 2:03 a.m. to reports of multiple shots fired, but were told to go no farther than Orange Avenue and Gore Street – more than half a mile north of the club – because of an active shooter.

During that time, fire officials started receiving phone calls from people who were wounded or trapped in the club's bathrooms.

At 2:06 a.m., a caller said she thought the shooter was out of bullets. But a minute and a half later people on scene heard the shots starting up again, and people screaming for help.

"My caller is no longer responding," a dispatcher said at 2:09 a.m. "Just an open line with moaning."

Fire crews brought their first victim into nearby Fire Station 5 at 2:13 a.m. as Orlando police officers started transporting victims to the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

A person called at 2:15 a.m. saying there were 10 people hiding in a handicapped bathroom stall. People in there had been shot. About 30 seconds later, police advised the shooter was also trapped in the bathroom.

Family members started calling, saying their loved ones were inside the club and needed help. One man said his daughter was hiding in a bathroom, with bullet wounds to her arm and leg. Another person reported a sister was shot twice.

The department's SWAT team was paged at 2:18 a.m.

People continued to call.

At 2:20 a.m., a caller said the shooter is "loading up." The caller is in a bathroom. So is the shooter.

But there is no report of shots fired after that time.

A manager called at 2:34 a.m. saying there were five employees trapped in a dressing room.

Manny Sotto, the city's emergency manager, was contacted and updated on the situation just before 3 a.m. Orlando fire's bomb truck was called in at 4:06 a.m.

Orlando Fire Chief Roderick Williams responded to the scene at 6:10 a.m. – nearly an hour after SWAT crews breached the building.

Copyright 2016 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

Tribune News Service

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