New Jersey Man Jumped Fence, Narrowly Escaped Orlando Shooting Massacre

A New Jersey man jumped a fence and narrowly escaped the Orlando nightclub shoot massacre that killed 49 people and injured more than 50.

Wildwood High School 2001 graduate Jason Gonzalez, 33, was in Orlando nightclub Pulse when Omar Mateen went on a shooting rampage, his family confirmed.

Gonzalez’s mother, Ivette Gonzalez, said her son came out unhurt, even as his best friend, Angel Colon, was shot several times. Colon survived and has since spoken to other news outlets.

“It was terrible. I’m so grateful my son is alive,” Ivette Gonzalez, a Wildwood resident and secretary at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School, told Patch. “He escaped that terrifying attack.”

Ivette Gonzalez provided contact information for Jason, but his mailbox was full on Tuesday,

Ivette Gonzalez said that, when the shooting broke out shortly after 2 a.m., her son ran from the building and jumped a fence to escape.

She was happy. but surprised that Jason managed to run and jump that fence. "I wonder what happened to that fence because he's a husky boy," she said.

Her son called her around 8:40 a.m., she said. “I couldn't understand what he was saying," she said. "He said, 'Momma, something's happened.' ”

"I couldn't hear him because he wasn't making sense," she said.

Ivette said Jason has stayed with Colon in the hospital and plans to support him as much as possible. Colon has been hospitalized at the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

"He's in shock," Ivette said. "We cry every time we see the news."

She said Colon had tried to run, but was shot three times in the leg and was trampled by others who were trying to escape.

"You think with 9-11, Columbine, you don't think it's going to happen to you," she said. "But it is close to you. It was my son."

"I'm so lucky to have my son alive," she said.

Photo courtesy of the Gonzalez family: Jason Gonzalez, Angel Colon and an unidentified person.