Seven years after the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting, central Florida communities united to remember the 49 lives lost and numerous survivors. A series of commemorative events marked the anniversary, including the unveiling of a large mural, the solemn ringing of church bells, and a poignant vigil held at the former nightclub site.

In the early hours of Monday, mourners gathered at the Pulse nightclub location, marking the approximate time gunman Omar Mateen initiated the attack in 2016. The massacre claimed 49 lives and left 53 injured, briefly holding the grim title of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history until the 2017 Las Vegas music festival shooting.

Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, was killed by a SWAT team after a three-hour standoff.

The Orlando Museum of Art unveiled a vibrant 44-foot-by-18-foot mural portraying the victims. A downtown Orlando church continued its annual tradition, ringing its bells 49 times in remembrance. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings expressed ongoing community support for the families and survivors, emphasizing the importance of remembering the tragedy to ensure that love triumphs over hate.