Two Dead, Six Wounded During Florida Halloween Celebration After 17-Year-Old Fires Into a Crowd

Two people were fatally shot, and six others were wounded during an Orlando, Florida, Halloween celebration. 

During the shocking early Friday shooting in the downtown area, another person sustained injuries from being trampled.  Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith revealed during a news conference that 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar has been arrested in connection with the horrific incident, although the motive remains unclear.

Emergency calls flooded in just after 1:00 a.m., reporting multiple gunshots near Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue.  A subsequent call alerted authorities to more gunfire near Washington Street and Orange Avenue.  The chaos unfolded despite around 100 officers patrolling the area for Halloween festivities.

At this time, it’s believed Edgar is the sole suspect in the shooting. Whether he was targeting someone or randomly firing into the crowd remains unknown. Surveillance footage captured him walking through the swarms of people before he began firing.  Notably, he had previously faced grand theft charges last year.  The identities of the victims, who range in age from 19 to 39, have not yet been released.  They are all said to be in stable condition. A 24-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to her left leg. A 20-year-old man suffered a grazing wound to the head, while a 26-year-old man was shot in the right foot. Another woman, aged 19, was struck in the upper back, with the bullet lodging in her cheek. The 26-year-old woman who was crushed in the incident had not been shot.

In the wake of this terrifying event, Chief Smith highlighted the staggering number of people—estimated between 50,000 and 100,000—who were downtown during the incident, raising serious concerns about safety in large crowds.  The state attorney, Andrew Bain, indicated that Edgar could face adult charges as the investigation unfolds.