FRAMINGHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - The Framingham family of one of the Orlando nightclub shooting survivors said they are relieved to know that Angel Colon is safe and recovering.
Colon, a Framingham native, moved to Florida when he was in high school. The 26-year-old was shot several times while at the Pulse Nightclub Saturday. He is now recovering at a hospital in Orlando and gave his account of the shooting at a news conference Tuesday.
Raquel Burgos recalled the moment she and her husband Ivan heard their nephew had been shot in the attack, going from the depths of despair to relief and joy when they saw him on TV talking about his narrow escape from death.
“I went crazy because I love my nephew,” said Burgos. “I was glad because I say, it was a miracle.”
“He was the one who brought happiness to the party,” said Colon’s uncle Bienvenido Nieves.
Colon’s friend Jeannette McCoy posted a photo on Facebook of the two of them in the hospital. She said Colon took a bullet for her as they tried to escape.
“I’m alive today because of my angel, Angel Colon,” she posted with the photo. “If he wasn’t behind me, that bullet would have been in my back.”
Colon’s relatives said they are glad to see his mother is also now at his side in the hospital. While they are relieved he is alive, they said they are still praying for the families of the victims of the shooting.
Jordan de la Cruz set up a fundraiser page for Colon after learning his friend, who works as a waiter, does not have health insurance.
“The mental and emotional trauma that sticks with people throughout their life, it’s something that he’s going to have to learn to cope with,” said de la Cruz, adding that Colon is in good spirits despite his injuries.
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