Wildwood Native Speaks Out About Orlando Shooting: 'My Heart Is Just So Hurt'
By Lynne Adkins and Greg Argos
ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS) -- A South Jersey native survived the attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Jason Gonzalez grew up in Wildwood and now lives in Orlando.
He was at Pulse Nightclub with several friends, including his best friend, Angel.
"We were having such a great time and then just out of nowhere there was shot after shot, after shot, after shot, after shot. It was so scary, we just started to run and Angel and I both fell. I fell because I tripped over someone already on the ground. Angel fell because he was shot in the back, I just thought he fell because we both fell, it was just the worst day our lives."
Complete Coverage: Orlando Mass Shooting
Jason made it out of the club without being shot. Angel remains hospitalized, another close friend died on the nightclub floor. When Jason made it out of the club, he feared that Angel was dead, until his phone rang.
"I get a facetime," Jason explained. "It's Angel on the ground. He's crying. He's scared. He told me he had gotten shot."
Fortunately, crews were able to rush Angel to the hospital where doctors saved his life. Jason said that he's so grateful that his friend is still here while he grieves over so many that were lost.
"The girl who was laying down next to Angel, he shot her in the head and then he went to do the same thing to Angel, but God protected him and he shot him in the hand. God is so powerful and he was with Angel this entire time," Jason said. The sorrow that Jason feels for the victims is nowhere to be found for the man that investigators say is responsible. "I just hope that guy is rotting in hell, over and over and over again so he can feel the pain that the people are going through right now," Jason said.
"I'm not doing too well. It's really hard to deal, to see Angel in so much pain and a lot of our friends passed away, and the people are still injured... My heart is just so hurt and it hurts for all families, the victims and even the people who made it out okay, are not okay. I really can't close my eyes because I keep reliving the moment over and over again."
