Long Beach to Hold Vigil Sunday Night at Harvey Milk Park for Orlando Shooting Victim

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach Mayor called the mass shooting that killed at least 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning as an "act of terrorism."

Mayor Robert Garcia, the city's first openly gay mayor, also announced plans for a 7:30 p.m. vigil at the city's Harvey Milk Park in memory of the shooting victims.

MORE COVERAGE 

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• California Reacts With Sorrow to Orlando Shootings

"Long Beach stands in strong solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters in Orlando, Florida," Garcia said.  "This act of terrorism and hate has no place in our country. These victims were targeted for being gay and for living and loving openly."

The shooting was first reported by police on Twitter just before 1 a.m. at Pulse nightclub and ended when officers fatally shot the suspected gunman, according to police. 

In addition to the fatalities, 53 people were sent to the hospital, police said. 

— City News Service contributed to this report