Raleigh man who worked at Pulse feels loss of 'family'
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Tabor Winstead of Raleigh says he lost 49 family members Sunday morning during the Orlando massacre at Pulse nightclub.
Pulse is a gay bar that Winstead knows well. He worked three years there as a light technician.
He says he is still going through an up-and-down wave of emotions.
"This is not something that is going to take months. It will take years," Winstead says. "They say time heals everything. Well it's going to take a long time. We have a long journey ahead of us."
Winstead says it's difficult to see the scroll of the 49 victims names and pictures, especially one of his regular customers, Christopher Leinonen. The mother of the 32-year-old victim expressed her raw emotion on ABC News just hours after the shooting: "Can't we all just get along," Christine Leinonen said.
An emotional plea Winstead shares.
READ MORE: COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE ORLANDO SHOOTINGS
"One thing that really resonates so deep is that it wasn't just a bang, bang, shoot up style - he held them hostage - my family hostage."
This once sacred spot for the LGBT community is now a crime scene investigation. The club's future is unclear. Winstead thinks it should close.
"I don't think you can replace something that has taken the country down so much."
Winstead says he does not recall seeing the shooter previously at Pulse.
