DJ Helps Save Two Lives at Pulse Nightclub Tragedy

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old, Amanda Alvear, 25 years old, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old, Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old … these are just five of the 49 people who were gunned down at Pulse nightclub Saturday night during the club’s hugely popular Latino night.

My heart breaks as I write this post. Yet, as often happens, there are bright lights who put their own lives at risk to help others in need. Ray Rivera was one of those people.

Rivera, aka DJ Infinite, was behind the decks that night and witnessed the chaos and bloodshed first hand. He heard the first gunshots as he began playing reggae near the end of the party. “I thought it was someone lighting firecrackers,” he told The Daily Beast. “So I turned the music down, and heard some more. I turned the music off.”

Rivera hid in the booth along with a couple of patrons who later managed to escape with his help.

This DJ went beyond the call of duty, putting his own life at risk while trying to help others. I have no doubt that there were others there who made that same frightening choice that night.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of all the victims.