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Orlando nightclub shooting deadliest in US history

Posted at 8:47 AM, Jun 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-12 15:06:12-04

Orlando Police said 50 people were killed in a nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning, marking the deadliest shooting attack in American history. 

Sunday's mass shooting marks the deadliest such attack since 1960. Here is a look at the five deadliest shootings: 

50 killed — June 12, 2016 — Orlando Nightclub

Police officials said Sunday morning that at least 50 people were killed at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The FBI is investigating whether there were ties to terrorism in this attack. 

32 killed -— April 16, 2007 — Virginia Tech

Gunman Seung-Hui Cho was a senior at Virginia Tech before he shot his first victim in a residence hall. He then stormed into the  Engineering building on campus, and took out 31 additional victims before taking his own life. This was the deadliest mass shooting in US history before Sunday.

28 killed — December 14, 2012 — Sandy Hook

In a horrific attack of a first-grade classroom, 20 first graders were among the 28 killed in an attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School. Of the 28 killed, 27 were actually killed on school property, and one other person - the suspect's mother - was shot offsite. The massacre at the elementary school set off a political firestorm over gun laws in the United States. 

23 killed — October 16, 1991 — Luby's shooting

George Hennard drove his pickup truck through the wall of Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas and began opening fire on patrons killing 23. Hennard reloaded several times in the restroom before getting into a shootout with police. After police wounded Hennard, he took his own life.

21 killed — July 18, 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre

At the time, this was the deadliest massacre in United States history. The attack took place near San Diego, and happened at a McDonald's restaurant. James Oliver Huberty killed 21 before a SWAT unit took out Huberty.