A 17-year-old suspect has been charged as an adult in the deadly shootings that occurred at Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando early Friday morning. Jaylen Dwayne Edgar was arrested at the scene where police body camera footage captured a large crowd fleeing from the gunfire, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to six others.
State Attorney Andrew Bain announced on Monday that Edgar is facing two counts of second-degree murder, with the possibility of more charges being added. Bain mentioned that a grand jury could potentially elevate the charges to first-degree murder due to the severity of the crime. The victims were identified as Tyrek Hill, 25, and Timothy Schmidt Jr., 19, with the injured victims ranging in age from 18 to 39.
Authorities are confident that the shooter acted alone, and investigations are ongoing to determine if the victims were targeted or random. The suspect, who was previously arrested on a grand theft charge in 2023, is not cooperating with authorities.
The incident marks the 27th mass shooting in Florida this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The suspect opened fire at two locations before being apprehended by the police. Police Chief Eric Smith stated that the suspect showed a blatant disregard for life and was not deterred by the presence of law enforcement officers.
Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency for businesses in downtown Orlando and implemented a curfew from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. until November 8. The change in Florida's gun laws allowing concealed carry without a permit has raised concerns about public safety during large gatherings.
The University of Central Florida confirmed that one of the victims, Timothy Schmidt Jr., was a freshman at the university with aspirations of becoming a businessman. Another victim, Anthony Berry, narrowly escaped a more serious injury and expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
The tragic incident has prompted discussions about enhancing security measures in downtown Orlando to prevent similar acts of violence in the future.
