June 14, 2016
Orlando Massacre Survivor Opens Up, Says Shooter 'Laughed as He Shot Us'
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
A survivor from the tragic Orlando massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse is opening up about the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, saying the gunman "laughed as he shot us."
Speaking with local news station Fort Lauderdale ABC-affiliate WPLG this week, Norman Casiano, 26, opened up about the national tragedy, which left at least 49 people dead and dozens injured. Casino, who, according to the Daily Mail, was the only person to escape from hiding in Pulse's bathroom with about 30 others, described the attack.
He said he was just about to leave Pulse around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, ordering an Uber ride home, but heard the first two gun shots and "automatically threw myself down to the floor."
He said he heard five more shots and crawled his way to the bathroom. He went into a stall where about 10 people were already hiding. More people entered the restroom and "we closed the door and huddled together for safety."
Casiano continued, saying he heard the gunshots getting "closer and closer."
"This is really happening. I started crying and at that point a gentleman stumbles into the bathroom, collapses in front of the stall door and he's bleeding everywhere and he's begging to come inside the stall," he told WPLG. "We're trying to get him in but...the door wouldn't open because there was bodies piled up."
He added: "I told him 'Look me in the eye; it'll be OK. Just calm down.' And honestly, five seconds passed by and the assailant came in and shot him one last time and I saw his last few..."
"The scary part was that he didn't say anything, and what's scarier than that when he shot the boy that was already shot, he laughed," Casiano told WPLG. "And as he's laughing as he fires through the whole front of the stall. That's when I got my first two wounds."
He was shot four times in the back but managed to escape by climbing over the victims' bodies to get to safety. Casiano was recently released from the hospital.
During the attack, Casiano managed to call his father and told him he was shot, but his phone shut off.
Casiano told the news station he and others tried to beg with the shooter, later identified as Omar Mateen, asking him to "spare us."
"We didn't see you we can't tell anyone," Casino said. "I guess that enticed him more and he put his gun over the top of the stall and just willingly fired. That's when I got [shot on] this side."
He said he and and the others in the bathroom were "in such shock we all just collapsed and stop talking." Casiano said he heard Mateen leave and the shots becoming fainter. That's when he heard police and saw flashlights.
"I had to step over bodies...and climbed on to the sink," he said, adding he put his hands up in the air and cops then brought him to an ambulance.
Casiano said he's not sure where he got the strength to escape, as he couldn't feel the lower half of his body, but said his family may have been a motivator.
"I still haven't made reason as to how a human being can have so much hate to do something like that," Casiano said of the shooting. He added he didn't get a good look at Mateen but "just heard him laugh."
Watch Casino's full interview with WPLG by clicking here.