Funerals, fear, uncertainty loom in Orlando

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla.

People marched down Orlando streets with rainbow flags, and others lined up to wait hours for a “One Pulse” tattoo Saturday as supporters tried to boost the somber city’s spirits while more victims of last weekend’s nightclub shooting were buried.

Across from Cathedral Church of St. Luke, where Christopher Andrew Leinonen’s funeral took place, hundreds lined the street holding “We Support You” and other signs. The 32-year-old Leinonen was with his friends at Pulse early last Sunday when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire, leaving 49 club-goers dead and wounding 53 others. Mateen died later after being shot by police.

Brandon Wolf was with Leinonen and shooting victim Juan Ramon Guerrero. The 27-year-old Wolf managed to make it out alive.

He says Leinonen, whom he called Drew, changed his life, and eased his pain when he was hurting.

“He looked me in the eyes that night and did what Drew always did; he said ‘I love you,’ Wolf said. “That is Drew’s lasting message to us: ‘I love you.’”

Investigators still are interviewing witnesses and looking to learn more about Mateen and others who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

A lawyer for the Council of American-Islamic Relations said that the FBI interviewed a man who worshipped at the same mosque as Mateen. Omar Saleh said he sat in on the Friday interview at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, the same mosque that Mateen attended near his home.

Saleh said the interview lasted about 30 minutes. FBI spokeswoman Carol Cratty declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.

Around Orlando, people prayed on the street and left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters to honor the victims.