ORLANDO, Fla. — ORLANDO, Fla. — The first officer at Pulse described hearing gunshots, seeing people run from the nightclub and making the decision to fire at the gunman during the June 2016 mass shooting.
In an FDLE interview reviewed by Channel 9, former officer Adam Gruler described what he saw and heard that night while working extra duty at Pulse.
“I was standing at the front of my car when I heard gunshots come from within the building,” Gruler said. “Instantaneously knew exactly what it was.”
Gruler said he took cover, called out “shots fired” over the radio and drew his service weapon as people began running from the club.
“What seemed like forever went by, but at one point just masses of people started flowing out of the building from every crevice they could,” Gruler said.
Gruler described realizing the shooter had a long gun while he was armed with a handgun.
“I was out powered. I had a handgun. He had a long gun. It was me,” Gruler said. “Our training is not to engage solo when we’re out powered.”
Gruler said he waited for more officers to arrive, then later fired at the gunman after seeing him continue shooting inside the club.
“I knew I had a shot,” Gruler said. “He’s active shooter. He’s continuing at that point.”
Gruler also described thinking of his family during the response.
“The only conscious thought there was ... was of my wife and six children, and telling myself I will not die tonight,” Gruler said.
Channel 9 anchor Greg Warmoth has the full report in the video above.
Audio below:
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