Pulse shooting survivor found dead at birthday party

Friends tell News 6 Chris Brodman died in Tampa

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to News 6 on Tuesday that Pulse survivor Chris Brodman died early Sunday morning while visiting the Tampa area, but the cause of death is under investigation.

Brodman's friends have been posting on social media since Sunday, saying that he passed away while attending a birthday party.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said that it responded to a home after receiving reports of a man unconscious at about 1:50 a.m. Sunday. Officials said Brodman's cause of death and manner of death are still under investigation.

Pulse survivor Orlando Torres told News 6 on Monday that he was first notified through Brodman's boyfriend that Brodman had passed away.

"It was supposed to be a fun night. They were supposed to go out there and just, you know, have a fun night out there in Tampa," said Torres. "His boyfriend posted on Facebook, as well as my friend posted on Facebook, that Chris Brodman had passed away."

Investigators said that Brodman's body did not show any signs of physical violence, adding their investigation is ongoing.

[MORE COVERAGE: Pulse Orlando Shooting]

Torres said that Brodman was given a second chance at life, only to have his life cut short three months after the Pulse shooting.

"It's unfortunate this had to happen to someone that is just so sweet and nice and didn't deserve it, like anybody else," said Torres.

News 6 spoke with Brodman on June 21, just nine days after the shooting. Brodman told News 6 how he narrowly escaped Pulse.

"Last call. We went out to the patio to have a cigarette, and we were out there when the shots started to be fired," said Brodman. "I said, 'Run. Just run, run, run.' And we all just ran out the bar."

News 6 also recorded Brodman receiving a Pulse tribute tattoo.

Brodman's boyfriend has posted on social media that he is collecting money to cover funeral expenses.

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About the Author:

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

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