Downtown Orlando mass shooting

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Two people are dead and at least seven others are injured after a shooting in downtown Orlando, Florida, in the early hours of Friday morning as thousands enjoyed the city's Halloween celebrations, police said.

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of carrying out the shooting. No motive has so far been established and the identities of those killed and injured have not been released, although police said the victims ranged in age from 19 to 39.

The two fatal victims were later described as a Black male, 25, and a white male, 19. Six others suffered gunshot wounds, and a 26-year-old woman suffered injuries from being trampled as the crowd fled the shooting scene.

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith told a news conference early Friday that shots were fired just after 1 a.m. at Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue with more shots fired nearby minutes later.

The wounded were taken to Orlando Medical Center for Treatment. Police said all were in a stable condition.

Police said the suspect was arrested and taken into custody. He was previously arrested for grand theft in 2023, a crime which remains an active investigation.

Surveillance video released by Orlando showed the suspect in a yellow shirt walking in the crowd. He appeared to raise his right hand and open fire at someone. Crowds dispersed in all directions as gunfire rang out, according the footage. The police video showed an officer knock the suspect down and three others ran to help arrest him.

Smith told the news conference that Orlando is popular on Halloween, one of the city's busiest nights of the year, with anything between 50,000 to 100,000 people expected to join the crowds. About 100 police officers were patrolling the area and managed to tackle the shooter soon after the shots were fired, Smith said.

Police showed security camera images of very crowded downtown streets at the time of the shooting, with people apparently running in terror as shots rang out

"Whatever his mindset was, he was going to shoot no matter what. He walked by multiple officers ... He walked by at least 10 officers, walked directly by them," Smith said.

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain told the news conference it was likely the suspect would be charged as an adult as the investigation progresses.

Residents say area has grown increasingly chaotic
Rocio Taylor, 70, who lives about three blocks from where the shooting occurred, said on the weekends she doesn’t go out past 7 p.m. because the bar-and-club scene are too rowdy. She also mentioned the area often hosts festivals and draws a young crowd. Taylor, who works at a wedding dress shop, said she would like to see a bigger police presence.

“It’s Halloween,” she said. “They drink too much alcohol. They go to nightclubs. They’re out of control.”

Andre, 45, who asked only his first name be used, said he was in the area on Thursday from about 8 p.m. to shortly before shots erupted, about 12:45 a.m.

Andre said there were thousands of people celebrating, many donning costumes. Andre dressed up as Freddy Krueger. He said the crowd was between 20 and 40 years old, although he did see some children and a mother pushing a stroller.

Andre, of Kissimmee, said there was a strong police presence monitoring the revelers.

“The atmosphere was really good. People were laughing and taking pictures with each other. I’m shocked. Everybody was having a good time.” Andre said he’s lucky he left shortly before the chaos.

“It’s Halloween,” she said. “They drink too much alcohol. They go to nightclubs. They’re out of control

Orlando, Florida, police released the identities of the two men killed in a Halloween shooting in downtown Orlando last week.

Tyrek Hill, 25, and Timothy Schmidt Jr., 19, were killed Friday when a gunman opened fire shortly after 1 a.m. during a Halloween celebration, police said.

Those who knew Schmidt remembered their friend in interviews with NBC South Florida.

One of Schmidt's coaches at the Plantation FC Rush soccer club described him as "humble."

"Sweetest person I ever coached in my life," Anis Jerbi, the club's director, told the station. "I saw a great person, great future ahead of him, but God knows what he's doing with these good people."

A friend of Schmidt's, Tan Bei, called him "good people" and said, "When you think about him, not a single negative thought appears."

Police arrested Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, police said.

No motive has been established. Police said Friday that the suspect was not being cooperative and that investigators are working to determine how the gunman obtained the weapon.

At a news conference Friday, Police Chief Eric Smith said Halloween is one of Orlando’s busiest nights of the year, with crowds of 50,000 to 100,000.

The gunman was seen in security video released by Orlando police walking in the crowd before he appeared to raise his right hand and open fire, causing the crowd to disperse as gunfire rang out.