SF resident's ex-girlfriend among those killed in Orlando shooting
SAN FRANCICSO (KGO) -- KJ Morris' beaming smile first caught Starr Shelton's attention when the two met in October of 2014 in Boston.
"She's a wonderful person and she should have had the name Starr, she really should have you know, because she was that great," said Shelton.
RELATED: These are the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando
During their year and a half relationship they relocated to Hawaii.
"I had an opportunity for me to come back here for school, and me and her discussed it, and she decided that this would be a wonderful time for her to go to Orlando and be there for her mom and take care of her grandmother who is 85-years-old and she loves them very, very much," said Shelton.
Shelton says Morris was settling in working at Pulse Nightclub just two weeks.
PHOTOS: Powerful reactions to Orlando around the world
"She was very excited to have this opportunity in Orlando, to be able to get involved in that community again and I was very happy and proud of her."
Morris was working her evening shift as a bouncer when the shooting began. Mutual friends texted Shelton, who turned to social media for more information.
"I started looking for her, calling her and unfortunately her phone was going to voicemail," she said.
Shelton say she remained hopeful Morris was alive.
PHOTOS: Mass casualties in Orlando nightclub shooting
"I still thought maybe she's just hiding somewhere in the club and they're going to find her and she's going to be okay and it broke my heart for her mom to call me and tell me that we had lost her," said Shelton.
She has no doubt Morris likely saved others inside.
"Whoever she was able to help and save, I'm glad that she could and I'm glad that it wasn't in vain."
RELATED: Father of man named as Orlando shooter: 'We are in shock'
As for what she'd like to see come from such tragedy, she says Morris would never want hatred to fill anyone's heart.
"She believed the same that I believed, that one day love will win. It will."
PHOTOS: San Francisco mourns victims of Orlando nightclub shooting
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the victims and families of the mass shooting in Orlando, click here for more information.
Click here for full coverage on the deadly mass shooting in Orlando.
