Orlando is advancing its plans to create a memorial at the site of the Pulse nightclub, where 49 individuals lost their lives in a tragic massacre seven years ago.
City leaders reached an agreement on Monday night to acquire the property for $2 million. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has expressed the intention to adopt a collaborative approach, involving the families of the victims in the memorial’s creation.
On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire in the gay nightclub, resulting in the deaths of 49 people and the injury of 53 more. At that time, it was deemed the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history. However, this grim record was surpassed the following year when a country music festival in Las Vegas saw 58 fatalities and over 850 injuries among a crowd of 22,000.
Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, was killed by a SWAT team following a standoff.
Plans for a memorial at the Pulse nightclub have been under consideration for several years. Earlier this year, the nonprofit onePulse Foundation disclosed that it was revising its initial $100 million memorial plans due to fundraising challenges.
The nightclub structure still stands and is encompassed by a temporary display honoring the victims.
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The onePulse Foundation conveyed its eagerness to participate in the discussions with the City of Orlando as the memorial project progresses.