Youngest Orlando shooting victim was on the phone with mom while hiding

ORLANDO, Fl. — The 48th victim of the Pulse Orlando mass shooting was identified Monday as Akyra Monet Murray, 18.

Murray, who was from Philadelphia, was in Orlando with her family, celebrating her graduation from West Catholic Preparatory High School. Her mother, Natalie Murray, she was on the phone with her wounded daughter as she cowered in a bathroom stall hiding from the shooter.

Natalie Murray said Akyra sent a text message at 2 a.m. on Sunday, pleading for her parents to pick her up from the nightclub because there had been a shooting.

Moments later, Akyra called her mother screaming, saying she was losing a lot of blood.

The 18-year-old was an honors student who graduated third in her class last week. She was headed to Mercyhurst College in Erie on a full basketball scholarship.

Akyra was the youngest of the 49 victims.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group