The normally unflappable Anderson Cooper began his CNN show Monday night by reading off the names of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting-- barely making it to the end as he teared up and had to take a few breaths before finishing.
"We begin tonight with their names," the host explained. "The names of the 48 out of 49 people who have so far been identified. Victims of the deadliest mass shooting in American history."
"They are more than a list of people's names. They are people who loved and were loved, and they are people with families, friends and dreams," he said. "And the truth is we don't know much about some of them, but we want you to hear their names and a little bit about who they were."
Beginning with Edward Sotomayor, Anderson talked a bit about each victim, at times pausing to compose himself, until the very end where it seemed he might not finish.
Watch the video below via Twitter:
.@CNN's @andersoncooper shares an emotional tribute to the #OrlandoShooting victims https://t.co/PlxpjLOMyghttps://t.co/DkxxPC1XtW
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 14, 2016
