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Pulse nightclub released from investigators, turned over to owners

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 spoke with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer about his visit inside Pulse nightclub, just one month after the mass shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 others.

Investigators handed over the nightclub to its owner Wednesday.

For a month, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Orlando Police Department have controlled and patrolled outside the club.

Dyer went inside the club Tuesday and said it was a very emotional moment.

“We held a moment of silence before we did that, and it was very moving to be on that site, quite honestly, where so many people lost their lives or were injured,” said Dyer.

Dyer, Orlando Police Department Chief John Mina and the SWAT commander spent about 30 minutes touring Pulse Tuesday night.

“Both of the doors to the bathrooms had glass in them. So if the shooter was standing at the door, he could see people if they tried to come through the door. I had not realized that before. I thought the doors were solid,” said Dyer.

Not only did the mayor get a better perspective of the victims’ viewpoint, but after reviewing numerous reports, he reflected on how police and other law enforcement put themselves in danger to save as many as they could.

“I had an opportunity to see where the SWAT officers were set up inside, how far they were from doors, what their entry must have been like,” said Dyer.  “You can just understand how horrific it had to be for some of the victims.”

The nightclub’s owner, Barbara Poma, hasn't made a decision on what will happen with the building, but she said she can begin to move forward to make plans for the future of Pulse.

Dyer said they have had some discussions about it.

“There's still a lot to consider about what type of memorial we do, whether it’s on that location, whether it’s housed in that specific building. I think they would like to reopen Pulse, (but) not necessarily on the same location, but the idea of Pulse,” Dyer said.