Halloween Night Turns Deadly in Orlando: 2 Killed, 8 Injured in Mass Shooting
A chaotic and terrifying scene unfolded in downtown Orlando, Florida, early Friday morning as thousands of people celebrated Halloween. A 17-year-old suspect, identified as Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, opened fire into a crowd of revelers, leaving two people dead and eight others injured. According to Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith, officers responded to shots fired around 1 a.m. Friday in the area of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue. Witnesses described the scene as "absolute chaos" as costumed celebrants ran for cover, screaming and crying. The same gunman then fired again about a block away, police said. Surveillance video obtained by local news outlets shows the moment police tackled the suspect to the ground. The video also shows the two locations where the gun was fired, with people running and screaming in the background. The victims have been identified as a 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man. One of the victims was a University of Central Florida student, according to the university. The shooting has left the community in shock and mourning. "We're still trying to process what happened," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "This is a tragedy that affects our entire community." In response to the shooting, Mayor Dyer has declared a local state of emergency and enacted a curfew in the city's entertainment district. The curfew will be in place from midnight to 5 a.m. to prevent any further violence. The suspect, Jaylen Dwayne 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. According to police, Edgar has no prior arrests or convictions. This is not the first time Orlando has suffered a mass shooting. In 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 others were injured in a mass shooting at Pulse nightclub, a gay bar in Orlando. Omar Mateen, the shooter, pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, during a 911 call. The Orlando Police Department is still investigating the motive behind Friday's shooting. As the investigation continues, the community comes together to mourn the loss of life and to demand answers. In the aftermath of the shooting, officials at the University of Central Florida held a press conference to address the incident. "We're deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students," said a university spokesperson. "We're doing everything we can to support our students and staff during this difficult time." As the city struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, many are demanding change. "Enough is enough," said one resident. "We need to take action to prevent these senseless acts of violence from happening again." The Orlando shooting is a sobering reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States. As the investigation continues, the nation waits with bated breath for answers and a glimmer of hope that something can be done to prevent such tragedies from happening again.#USNews #OrlandoShooting #GunViolence #MassShooting #Halloween