Orlando Mass Shooting During Halloween Celebrations

Two people were killed and six injured in a shooting in downtown Orlando in the early hours of Friday morning, police have said.
Police told Newsweek in an emailed statement that the suspect, identified as 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, was arrested at the scene.
Police said they responded to an emergency call about a shooting in the area of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard at 1:07 a.m.
“Within minutes, a second shooting was witnessed by officers south of Washington Street on Orange Avenue,” the police statement said.
Those who were injured in the attack are in stable condition at the Orlando Regional Medical Center, police said.
The victims’ identities have yet to be confirmed, but police said their ages range from 19 to 39.
The suspect had previously been arrested for grand theft in 2023, according to the police.
State Attorney Andrew Bain said that they were considering trying the suspect as an adult.
“Obviously from the multiple victims and the brazen nature of the crime, there’s several aggravating factors that fit inside the matrix to charge him as an adult,” he said in a press conference.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said in the press conference that a motive had not yet been established, but that they believed he was the only person involved in the attack. They recovered a handgun from the scene.
During the press conference, Smith showed videos of crowds fleeing as gunshots rang out, as well as a video of police quickly apprehending the suspect.
The area, which has several bars and clubs, was packed with people out to celebrate Halloween.
A video published by FOX35 shows crowds of people fleeing down a street. Several police officers can be seen running in the opposite direction.
Orlando Police said that around 100 officers were mobilized in response to the incident.
Because of the size of the crowds, police said they had not yet determined who, if anyone, had been the shooter’s target. The investigation is still ongoing.
Several videos shared on social media show partygoers running after the gunman opened fire. One graphic video appears to show several injured people lying on the street.
The Orlando police chief noted in the press conference that it has been two years since the last mass shooting in the city.
Orlando Police first confirmed it was investigating the incident in a post on X, formerly Twitter, at 2:17 a.m.: “The Orlando Police Department is conducting a shooting investigation in Downtown Orlando. We are still gathering information and interviewing witnesses.”
Maxwell Frost, a Florida congressman, wrote on X: “Please stay clear of Downtown Orlando. Reports of a shooting with multiple people hit. Stay safe.”