Police officials have confirmed the death of 30-year-old Eddie Justice, who reportedly sent his mother a slew of chilling text messages while hiding from the Orlando shooter in a Pulse bathroom, according to the Palm Beach Post .
At approximately 2:06 a.m. Sunday, June 12, Mina Justice had awakened to the sound of her phone going off. Sources stated that the text messages were from her son informing her that there was a shooting at the Pulse nightclub and he was trapped in the women’s bathroom. Not long after, Eddie sent another text to his mother saying “I’m going to die” just before texting “Call police.”
“Mommy I love you” was the first in a tragic series of texts Eddie Jamoldroy Justice sent … https://t.co/T3gNCFhb2e pic.twitter.com/BLrVsxpa5I
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) June 13, 2016
Mina reportedly called 911 to report the nightclub shooting and to inform emergency dispatchers that several people were being held hostage in the women’s bathroom. However, she continued contacting her son, asking “you still in there?” When she didn’t get a response from him, she began to worry, sending her son several text messages until he finally responded at 2:39 a.m. saying, “Call them mommy. Now.”
The mother reassured her son, who worked as an accountant and lived in a condo in downtown Orlando, that she alerted police and that they were on their way. A few minutes later, Eddie texted his mother that the Orlando gunman was “coming” and stated that he was “going to die.”
Eddie Justice, who was missing after texting with his mom during the Orlando attack, has been confirmed dead pic.twitter.com/UgY3GdWn8W
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 13, 2016
The Washington Post reported that the mother asked if her son or anyone else in the nightclub was hurt during the shooting, and he replied with “Yes. Lots.” At 2:49 a.m., Mina text her son again, informing him to let her know when police arrive, but she received a terrifying response.
The Orlando shooting victim text his mother saying, “Hurry. He’s in the bathroom with us. He’s a terror.”
She asked, “Is the man in the bathroom with you?”
Seconds later, Eddie sent his last text message, answering her question with “yes,” before going silent.
Mina continued to text her son, informing him that she loved him and begged for him to respond to her messages, but he never did. It was 15 hours later that she received the confirmation that Eddie Justice was among the 50 people killed in Orlando mass shooting.
Sunday night, reporters tried contacting the victim’s mother for comment, but it was to no avail. However, a relative, Jeffrey Robinson, turned to Facebook to express his concerns before receiving confirmation that Eddie was among those killed in the Orlando nightclub shooting.
He wrote, “Please say a prayer for my little cousin. God bring him home safe and sound. This is a tragedy for all families involved and a time to come together and take a stand, regardless of what color, race, sex, or sexual reference.”
“To my family, I love you guys and I will be here until the end.”
However, after learning that his cousin did not make it out of Pulse nightclub alive, Robinson later posted via Facebook that this is a “terrible tragedy for my family. A great young man gone way too soon. We love you Eddie Justice.”
Orange County Police officials identified the Orlando nightclub shooter as 29-year-old Omar Mateen of Fort Pierce, who worked as a security guard. Reports say he was heavily armed with a rifle and a pistol when he walked into Pulse, which is a popular gay club in Orlando, where hundreds were celebrating Latin night, dancing to salsa and merengue music.
However, not long after Mateen’s entrance, it all came to an abrupt end when he began opening fire, killing at least 50 people and injuring 53 in what proved to be one of the worst mass shootings in U.S history.
At approximately 5 a.m., the gunman was killed during a shootout with police that left an Orange County officer injured.
Family members created a GoFundMe account for the Orlando shooting victim Eddie Justice, where they have since accumulated $225, but they are hoping to receive $10,000 in donations for funeral expenses.
[Photo by Tamara Lush/AP Image]