(ProsperNews.net) – Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith reported that a tragic shooting early Friday morning left eight victims, including two fatalities, in downtown Orlando. The incident unfolded just after 1 a.m., with the first shots fired at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue, a busy area near several bars. Shortly after, another call came in reporting gunfire further south on Orange Avenue near Washington Street. Police quickly responded to both scenes, and within minutes, they apprehended the suspect, a 17-year-old male identified as Jaylen Dwayne Edgar.
The Orlando Police Department confirmed that Edgar has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. At the scene, no officers discharged their weapons, and Edgar was apprehended without incident, according to Smith. Video footage from the night showed a chaotic scene, with large crowds fleeing the gunfire and officers responding to subdue Edgar, who was tackled by an officer during the arrest.
The two victims who lost their lives were a 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man, whose identities have not been released pending family notifications. Among the other injured victims were an 18-year-old male shot in his lower leg, a 39-year-old female who suffered a gunshot wound to her left hand, a 24-year-old female hit in her left leg, a 20-year-old male grazed in the head, a 26-year-old male shot in his right foot, and a 19-year-old female who suffered a serious gunshot wound in her upper back, with the bullet lodging in her cheek.
In addition to those directly hit by gunfire, a 26-year-old woman was trampled as people desperately tried to flee the area, becoming the ninth victim connected to the incident. The six shooting victims who were hospitalized remain in stable condition, according to Smith.
In his statement to the press, Chief Smith expressed condolences to the victims’ families and thanked his team for their quick and decisive response. “We mourn the lives lost today and the devastation this violence has caused to families and our community,” Smith said. The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine a motive behind the shooting. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the Orlando Police Department to aid in their ongoing investigation.
Copyright 2024, ProsperNews.net
