"He Has Us": Mother Shares Son's Chilling Texts From Inside Orlando Shooting
Almost a full day after Omar Mateen walked into Orlando’s Pulse nightclub and started shooting, Mina Justice still hasn’t found her son. All she has are the disturbing messages Eddie sent her while he was trapped inside with the gunman.
Shortly after 2 a.m., Mina began receiving a series of frantic texts from Eddie describing the chaotic scene as it unfolded. On Sunday, Mina shared their exchange with the Associated Press, which was later summarized by Slate:
Eddie: “Mommy I love you” (2:06 a.m.)
Eddie: “In club they shooting.”
Mina: “U ok”
Eddie: “Trapp in bathroom.” (2:07 a.m.)
Mina: “What club”
Eddie: “Pulse. Downtown. Call police.”
Eddie: “I’m gonna die.” (2:08 a.m.)
Mina: “I’m calling them now.”
Mina: “U still in there”
Mina: “Answer our damn phone”
Mina: “Call them”
Mina: “Call me.”
Eddie: “Call them mommy” (2:39 a.m.)
Eddie: “Now.”
Mina: [Is anyone hurt?]
Eddie: “Lots. Yes.” (2:42 a.m.)
Mina: [Are you with police?]
Mina: “Text me please”
Eddie: “No” (2:46 a.m.)
Eddie: ‘”Still here in bathroom. He has us. They need to come get us.”
Mina: “The police is in There let me no when u see the police” (2:49 a.m.)
Eddie: “Hurry” (2:49 a.m.)
Eddie: “He’s in he bathroom with us” (2:50 a.m.)
Eddie: “Women’s bathroom is” (2:50 a.m.)
Mina: “Is the man in the bathroom wit u”
Eddie: “He’s a terror”
Eddie: “Yes” (2:51 a.m.)
Mina: “Are u hurt”
Mina: “Stay there he don’t like gay people” (2:52 a.m.)
Mina: “Text me please” (2:53 a.m.)
Mina: “I love u” (2:54 a.m.)
Mina: “Don’t do nothing”
Mina: “Stay down”
Mina: “Baby text me”
As of Sunday night, authorities had only released the names of eight victims. Eddie’s name was not on the list, a fact that brought Mina little comfort.
“His name has not come up yet and that’s scary,” Mina told the AP. “It’s just ... It’s just, I got this feeling. I got a bad feeling.”