Pulse Owner Calls Orlando Nightclub Where Shooter Killed 50 a ‘Place of Love and Acceptance’

The owner of Pulse—the nightclub in Orlando, Fla., where a gunman killed 50 people and injured at least 53 early Sunday morning—said late Sunday that the club’s employees have been her family for nearly 15 years.

“Like everyone in the country, I am devastated about the horrific events that have taken place today,” Barbara Poma said in a statement. “Pulse, and the men and women who work there, have been my family for nearly 15 years. From the beginning, Pulse has served as place of love and acceptance for the LGBTQ community.”

The massacre, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism, was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.

“I want to express my profound sadness and condolences to all who have lost loved ones,” Poma said. “Please know that my grief and heart are with you.”