Couple murdered in Orlando massacre planning to get married are to have a joint funeral

The couple were deeply in love and planned to marry.

22-year-old Juan Ramon Guerrero and his boyfriend, 32-year-old Christopher Leinonen were together two years before they were mercilessly killed as part of the fatalities in the shootings at a gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando. Omar Mateen opened fire as part of a homophobic attack, leaving 50 dead, 53 wounded and a deep-rooted fear in the LGBTQ community of being killed for their sexuality. According to TIME, the mourning families of the couple plan to bury the deceased together. 22-year-old Guerrero had reportedly just finished his first year at university, planning to become a financial advisor. Guerrero's father, Juan Snr, spoke of how the family decided to plan the funerals:

"I think my son wanted to do that. That’s why. “I don’t care what the people think. I don’t care."

Sister to deceased Juan, Aryam Guerrero told of how in love the couple were before they were murdered:

"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.” “If it’s not a funeral, they were going to have a wedding together.”

According to the Guerrero family, Leinonen's mother Christine originally thought of burying the soulmates together. Omar Mateen committed suicide at after firing shots at the club and following the crime, Mateen's father has issued a controversial apology to the LGBTQ community which has only outraged friends, family and members of LGBTQ.

All images via Instagram