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Orlando Terrorism: J.K. Rowling Pays Tribute To Victim With Ties To Harry Potter

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 13:32 PST, Jun 13, 2016

The United States and the world are collectively mourning after Sunday’s Orlando terrorism; among the specific mourners is Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. According to reports, Rowling had a personal tie to at least one of the victims of the recent Orlando terrorism that killed 50 and injured 53 more, terrorism that has now become known as the worst shooting in U.S. history.

J.K. Rowling personally knew one of the Orlando terrorism victims, 22-year-old Luis S. Vielma. According to an ABC News report, J.K. Rowling had a connection with the victim because he worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios in Florida.

J.K. Rowling, 50, shared her memories and condolences on social media following the news of the Orlando terrorism attack.

According to reports and the Orlando terrorism victim’s Facebook page, the Orlando terrorism victim memorialized by J.K. Rowling worked on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Orlando before his horrific death in Sunday’s Orlando terrorism.

According to Orlando terrorism victim Vielma’s Facebook page, he had been an attendant and attractions operator Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey ride inside Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park before the tragic Orlando terrorism-related shooting.

“We offer our condolences to the families and friends of all those who were killed and injured. These events have shocked and saddened the Central Florida community.”

Seminole State College of Florida said Vielma had been an EMS student enrolled in summer CPR classes; he was also enrolled in Seminole State College classes in the upcoming fall semester. The victim of the Orlando terrorism was working for both himself and his local community when a religious extremist began firing indiscriminately at patrons of the Florida gay nightclub Pulse.

According to a USA Today report, the Orlando terrorism victim whom J.K. Rowling publicly paid tribute to was also recognized by Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park’s COO, Bill Davis. Davis released a public statement addressing the loss of Orlando terrorism victim Vielma.

“We are deeply saddened over the loss of our Team Member. We are working to support his friends and colleagues here at Universal Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with Luis, his family and all the victims or this tragedy.”

When the Orlando terrorism victim languished in the hospital between life and death, J.K. Rowling continued her vigil, taking once again to social media to share her well-wishes and thoughts as the family and world waited with bated breath for an update on the Harry Potter ride’s attendant.

For quite a while, it seemed like Luis S. Vielma might indeed pull through from injuries he sustained in the Orlando terrorism attack.

Unfortunately, his name was ultimately found on a list of the deceased from the Orlando terrorism, much to the horror of J.K. Rowling, his friends, and family members.

While the 22-year-old Florida youth lay dying in a hospital bed as a result of the Orlando terrorism, some of his fellow Americans were using his death as a platform to campaign for their gun rights despite the lack of class and/or empathy required to demand benefits from the death of an innocent.

According to multiple reports, Orlando City has been in contact with the next-of-kin of 36 of the deceased in the Orlando terrorism attack. With over 50 people in the hospital, it is widely feared that the death toll as a result of the terrorism will rise.

When gunman and terrorist Omar Mateen, 29, began his shooting rampage inside of the Pulse nightclub, it is estimated that the venue was hosting at least 300 people, most of which were members of the Orlando LGBT community.

The Orlando terrorism shooting attack on the LGBT community is now the nation’s deadliest mass shooting.

It has been reported that the Orlando killer may have considered other targets and even tried to purchase body armor leading up to the attack.

The man responsible for the Orlando terrorism that killed 50, including the victim mourned by J.K. Rowling, is known to have made extremist comments as early as 2013, but his threat was dismissed by the FBI.

[Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images]

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