Fake Facebook page emerges under Pulse victim's name

Sister of Edward Sotomayor wonders if other families are experiencing same thing

ORLANDO, Fla. – The sister of a man killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting said Wednesday someone used her brother's name to make a fake social media page.

Kimberly Jackson said it was July 9 -- three weeks after her brother, Edward Sotomayor, was shot to death -- when she received a friend request on Facebook.

It appeared to be from her brother's Facebook account, she said.

It included his name, his face and his business name.

Video report from 11 p.m. news: Fake Facebook page emerges under Pulse shooting victim's name

"I was kind of confused," Jackson told News 6. "I was like, wait. I thought I was already friends with him."

She said she wasn't the only one who received this friend request.

Jackson quickly found out some of Sotomayor's friends also got the request.

She said his partner, Louis, received it, as well.

"He messaged the fake account, and he was getting messages back," Jackson said. "The person on the other end was saying that they were Eddie."

Jackson and Sotomayor's partner notified Facebook, and the company took the page down.

"I found it really disheartening that people could be that brazen and add insult to injury after the fact, very shortly after we lose somebody," she said.

Jackson said she's afraid her family may not be the only one experiencing this.

"I feel bad because if I'm going through this, are one of the other 48 victims going through it too?" she asked. "You have to wonder. I can't be the only one."

Jackson said she still doesn't know who was behind the fake Facebook page or what they were seeking.​


About the Author

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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