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Engaged Couple Killed In Orlando Shootings To Have Joint Funeral Instead

Engaged Couple Killed In Orlando Shootings To Have Joint Funeral Instead

Utterly touching and also heartbreaking.

George Pavlou

George Pavlou

Often after an horrific terror attack, people can get bogged down in the statistics. While I've read a thousand times about the 50 dead and 53 more injured in the horrendous attack on an Orlando LGBT night club, it's the naming of the victims that really hits home.

Possibly one of the most harrowing stories to come out of the attack is that of Juan Ramon Guerrero and his boyfriend Christopher Leinonen.

The couple had planned on getting married prior to losing their lives at the club and will now instead have a side-by-side joint funeral, their families told TIME.


Juan Ramon, 22, and Christopher, 32, had been together for two years and were deeply in love, according to their family members. Juan Ramon's older sister said:

"They were honestly so in love. They were soul mates. You can tell by how they looked at each other. It's a little comforting that they died together."

Juan Ramon's family found out he'd died in the shooting at the Pulse night club after a friend saw his body being carried out on a stretcher.

When his family got to the hospital, their worst fears were confirmed.


Juan Ramon had just finished his first year at the University of Central Florida and had hoped to become a financial adviser. He was days away from his 23rd birthday when he was killed.

His family still plan to celebrate by cooking all the food he likes. It's utterly heartbreaking.

Our thoughts are with all those mourning their loves ones.

Words by George Pavlou

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Topics: LGBT, Orlando