Two people were killed and six others injured after two shootings in a large crowd celebrating Halloween in downtown Orlando early Friday. A suspect is in custody and has been charged with murder, authorities said.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith told reporters that officers responded to shots fired in the city’s downtown shortly after 1 a.m. A second shooting minutes later happened within a short distance of officers and they quickly made an arrest, he said
The six wounded were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center and were in stable condition. They ranged in age from 19 to 39, he said. A 26-year-old woman was also injured after she was trampled by the crowd attempting to flee, police said later on Friday
The two people killed were described as a 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man. Their identities have not been released.
Smith said anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 people could have been downtown at the time of the shooting, judging by views of the huge Halloween crowds.
The suspect was identified as 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, who was arrested for grand theft last year. The teenager was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, police said Friday afternoon.
There was also no immediate indication of why he allegedly opened fire. The suspect is believed to be the only shooter, Smith said, adding that it was unclear whether he knew the victims.
“We had about 100 officers who are working the detail, spread out,” Smith told reporters, adding: “The officers responded very quickly, the officers did a great job. They responded right when they heard the shooting. You know, everybody else is running, they’re not: They’re sitting in position looking for a shooter. They found the shooter.”
