BOSTON (WHDH) - People in Boston are lending their support to victims of the Orlando nightclub shootings and their families.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has invited the public to a vigil Monday evening at City Hall Plaza to honor the victims and their loved ones.

“We just want the people of Orlando to know our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Walsh said.

Governor Charlie Baker said on Monday the shooting hit close to home, as his brother is gay. He said he spent some time this weekend talking to his brother and his brother’s friends.

“This one is particularly close to home for me,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I said to them, ‘How are you feeling?’ And the answer I got was ‘I spend a lot of time thinking things are getting better and things are improving and then we all discover that there are people who hate because of who we are.”

Both the governor and the mayor expressed concern that the shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase a gun.

“Wondering how did this guy have a gun permit, particularly being under surveillance by the FBI three times in two years and just the fact that he was on somebody’s radar at one point,” Walsh said.

The vigil begins at 6 p.m with a moment of silence.

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