John Dunnett, living in Orlando, visited nightclub hours before shooting

A Monctonman now living in Orlando says members of the LGBTQ community in the Florida city are feeling "vulnerable but strong" since the weekend shooting at a popular gay bar.

JohnDunnettdescribes the past few days assurreal.

"Ican't even really explain itifyou want to know how I feel,the legitimate and honest answer is just numb,"DunnetttoldInformation MorningMoncton.

Authorities say 49people are dead and 53 others wounded afterOmar Mateenopened fire with an assault rifle inside the Pulse nightclub early Sunday. He was killed by police.

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"We've all dealt with loss in our own lives but this is the first time this is a loss for me that stems from nothing more than hate and that's kind of a tough pill to swallow,"Dunnettsaid.

Dunnettwas celebrating on Saturday night with friends and stopped by thePulse nightclub earlier in the evening for a drink.

Agay club isn't just a club, it's kind of a sanctuary or a place of worship in aweirdsense.- John Dunnett

He found out about the attack just minutes after it began on social media, but originally wasn't alarmed, thinking it was a jealous boyfriend or girlfriend who would be apprehended by police.

"We very quickly learned as a community that this just wasn't a typical gun incident that seems to happen all too often here in the Statesit was very clear early on that it was something of a different magnitude happening and it's a very isolating feeling," Dunnett said.

'One of our places is completely gone'

Dunnett saidit is difficult to explain the importance of a gay bar to people outside of the LGBTQ community.

"Agay club isn't just a club, it's kind of a sanctuary or a place of worship in aweirdsense. It's somewhere we all have ownership over," he said.

Information Morning - Moncton9:58Moncton man in Orlando

John Dunnett of Moncton was at the Pulse nightclub just hours before the shooting."If you've never had to question holding hands with someone that you love walking down the street, if you've never had to question justifying feelings you have no control over to your familythen you can't really understand what it is to be attacked in a place that is a place where you can be yourself."

Dunnettsaidhe has been heartened by the show of support from around the world, including his hometown of Moncton where 200 people gathered on Monday night to hold a vigil in memory of the victims.

"I feel so privilegedto have grown up in a place likeMonctonto have been accepted for who I am, never questioned and I just think that it's so great to see the community coming togetherand it makes me proud to be fromMoncton," Dunnett said.

"Although I'm safe, although my friends are safe there is something that's lost. A sense of I don't know freedom almost. I don't think it has settled in for a number of people that one of our places is completely gone."