Crime & Safety

Orlando Massacre Victims Include Detroit Woman's Son

Christine Leinonen knew her son and his boyfriend were at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, but thought they left before gunman opened fire.

Detroit, MI — The worst fears of a Detroit woman whose son who was at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando Sunday were realized when her son and his boyfriend were listed among the 50 people who died in the horrific mass shooting, the worst in U.S. history.

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32, and his boyfriend, Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, were both confirmed dead.

Christine Leinonen knew her son and his boyfriend were at Pulse but thought they had left before the  the crowded nightclub, where about 350 people were dancing and drinking, before the gunman opened fire.

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In an emotional interview with ABC News, she was proud of her son,  who had been active in the gay community for years and had received a humanitarian award for a gay-straight alliance he founded at his high school.

She spoke with him around 6 p.m. Saturday.

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"I left him with 'I love you, Chris,' " she said.

Leinonen said her hope that the tragedy will mark an end to violence against members of the gay community.

"Please, let's all just get along," she said. "We're on this earth for such a short time. Let's try to get rid of the hatred and the violence, please!"

Guerrero was one of the first of those killed to be identified. Christine Leinonen said she had been calling her son since seeing a Facebook post from a mutual friend of her son and his boyfriend, but was unable to reach him.

Investigators combing through the crime scene after the bloody massacre have said they had to “tune out” the near constant ringing of cell phones of the victims as loved one checked on their wellbeing.

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