Central Florida reacts to Las Vegas mass shooting

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Local leaders and law enforcement officiers are sending their condolences to Las Vegas after at least 58 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured Sunday night when a gunman opened fire on more than 22,000 people gathered near the Mandalay Bay Casino for a country music festival.

Police said the suspected gunman, identified as 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel on people attending the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival. Authorities found him dead in his hotel room, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

After the events in Las Vegas, it's hard not to think about the Pulse mass shooting in June 2016, where 49 people died and more than 50 others were injured.

Mayor Buddy Dyer tweeted out his condolences Monday morning and told Las Vegas that the Orlando community stands with them.

Dyer said during a news conference Monday morning that he offered up deploying city employees to Las Vegas to help.

"I let her (Mayor Carolyn Goodman) know that we understood how they were feeling, that we had endured such a tragedy and I believe that it is our unique responsibility to share our knowledge and our experience," Dyer told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs.

Dyer shared the importance of setting up a family assistance center like the one in Orlando that was served and still serves Central Floridians affected by the Pulse shooting.

Dyer said the event more than 2,000 miles away is already having a ripple effect here.

"There's no doubt that Las Vegas tragedy will provoke emotional angish in those that are here in our community that were impacted by Pulse," Dyer said.

Barbara Poma, the owner of the Pulse nightclub where 49 people died and more than 50 others were injured, released a statement, “We pray for those whose lives were taken ... for the wounded & all who will forever be affected."

Pulse survivors said it is now their time to help those affected by the deadliest mass shooting.

"When I saw video it sounded like machine guns, it just made my heartbeat race," said Pulse survivor Orlando Torres. "It's just an emotional reflection of what we went through, and I can imagine the families are going through, too. It's not easy for anybody."

The brother of Stephen Paddock spoke to WFTV anchor Nancy Alvarez on Monday morning and said he's “dumbstruck” to learn his brother is the accused killer.

Sen. Bill Nelson said in a statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of this horrific attack. As the investigation continues, we will learn more about what led to this tragedy in Las Vegas, but at some point we, as a society, have to stand up and say enough is enough.”

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said in a statement, "Today is another sad day in American history in which innocent people have once again been killed in a mass shooting. Our prayers are for the victims and their families during their period of grief. We encourage citizens to continue providing information to law enforcement about suspicious persons prone to violence. We are only as good at stopping such attacks as the information that we receive from the public."

A vigil will be held at Lake Eola at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Cox Media Group