A former Leominster man living in Orlando, Fla., was wounded during the mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning, according to his half brother, Santos Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said his brother, Jeffrey Rodriguez, who was “born and raised” in Leominster, was shot three times during the deadly attack at Pulse nightclub that killed 49 people and wounded 53. He said Jeffrey, 37, was in critical condition Monday night.
Santos, who lives in Spring Hill, Fla., said he received a phone call from Jeffrey during the attack, but he missed it. He then said he received a text message from his half-brother saying he had been shot, was bleeding out and thought he was dying. He told Santos to tell everyone he loved them.
Santos said he quickly got online to see what happened and sped to the hospital. He said his family was unaware of Jeffrey’s condition for more than 14 hours.
Santos said he was hoping to hear his brother was in stable condition, but after the long wait, his family was told Jeffrey was in critical condition.
“Critical is better than dead,” Santos said.
Mary Ann Rodriguez, Jeffrey’s stepmother, told The Washington Post that Jeffrey went to the club with a large group of friends and said he was among the 15 people who hid in a restroom. She told the Post a friend who is a physician’s assistant “helped save his life by staunching his wounds.”
Multiple calls to the Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Orange County’s Sheriff’s Office were not returned to confirm Jeffrey Rodriguez’s location or condition.
Santos said Jeffrey had been living in Florida for many years now.
“He’s a happy, outgoing, funny, joking guy,” he said. “He is all abut family. And he loves to dance.”
Santos said hospital officials have told him Jeffrey is able to talk yet he has not been able to speak with him. Jeffrey has been through multiple surgeries, Santos said.
For now, Santos said he is going to take this “day by day.”
“I’m happy he’s alive but furious at the same time,” he said.
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