For three harrowing hours, as Omar Mateen carried out his rampage inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, clubgoers hid in bathrooms, in air-conditioning vents, under tables.
Helpless, trapped, shocked and scared, they texted their loved ones, pleading for help.
One person whose story has really touched peoples’ hearts is that of Eddie Jamoldroy Justice.
Justice, a 30-year-old accountant, sought shelter in the bathroom from where he texted his mom:
Mommy I love you
In club they shooting
Trapp in bathroom
Call police
Im gonna die
His mother, Mina Justice, tried to reassure him that she’d called 911 and help was coming:
Calling them now.
U still there?
Answer your phone.
Call me.
Call me.
Justice replied: Call them mommy
Now
Im still in the bathroom
Hes coming
Im going to die
He then went silent. He was among the 49 who didn’t make it.
