Downtown Wilmington visitors discuss Orlando mass shooting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Friday night marked the first weekend following the Orlando mass shooting.

Many downtown Wilmington visitors agreed what happened in Orlando was a tragic but they said they weren’t going to let the possibility of something bad happening keep them from going out.

Bill Poteat, who lives in Wilmington, said he wasn’t going to live in fear.

“We have to live with a very positive attitude,” said Poteat. “If a problem occurs then you have to deal with the problem at that time.”

Billie Redmond, a downtown visitor, said there are a lot of different emotions when it comes to reflecting on what happened.

“You know it’s hard not to feel angry and resentful and incredibly sad,” said Redmond. “First of all, to have something like that happen where we live, where we are.”

The consensus was people weren’t going to live in fear of what could happen. And they said they are going to enjoy the life they are living, while continuing to honor and think about the lives that were lost.