Pulse Nightclub Demolition Begins in Orlando

Crews started demolishing the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, clearing the site for a permanent memorial honoring the 49 people killed in a mass shooting there nearly a decade ago.

The long-shuttered building, scarred by bullet holes from the June 12, 2016, attack, was torn down using a large crane under the watch of local police. Workers began by removing walls, with the process broadcast live by local news outlets. The iconic Pulse sign had been taken down the previous week and placed in storage for possible inclusion in the future memorial. The shooting occurred during a Latin night celebration when gunman Omar Mateen, 29, entered the LGBTQ-friendly venue and opened fire, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others. Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during the incident, was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. Officials later confirmed he used a handgun and an AR-15-style rifle, both legally purchased days before the attack. Federal investigations into Mateen for potential radical ties in 2013 and 2014 had been closed prior to the event.

The city of Orlando acquired the property in 2023 for $2 million after a previous effort by...