Police have confirmed mass casualties after a gunman opened fire at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday.
The shooting at Pulse Nightclub occurred just after 2 a.m. About four hours later police confirmed that a gunman was dead. The circumstances of the shooter's death are not yet clear, and it is unknown whether they acted alone.
"We can confirm this is a mass casualty situation," Orlando Police tweeted. At least 20 people were killed.
Dozens of police vehicles, including a SWAT team, swarmed the area around the club. At least two police pickup trucks were seen taking what appeared to be shooting victims to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, The Associated Press reported.
NBC affiliate WESH reported that a crisis negotiator was at the scene, and Orlando Police said an explosion heard around 5 a.m. ET was a controlled event.
Revelers described scenes of horror from inside the club. One witness told MSNBC that they had to crawl over bodies to escape.
A post to the club's Facebook page at around 2 a.m. warned "everyone get out of Pulse and keep running." Witness video from outside showed dozens of first responders at the scene, and several victims on the ground.
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News is trickling out on this. Police and FBI involved. Shooter is dead. Aside from the gun involved, a "device" was found on his body and possibly in his car.
At least 20 people were killed and 42 were taken to local hospitals after the shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub, police said Sunday. The gunman was killed after exchanging fire with police.