Two people are dead six people are injured after a shooting in downtown Orlando, Florida, early Friday morning, city police said.
Orlando Police release details about the shooting
NBC News reported that police arrested a 17-year-old boy suspected of carrying out the shooting. While the incident remains under investigation and the identities of the victims have not yet been released, authorities stated that the wounded victims range in age from 19 to 39. Authorities have yet to determine a motive.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said officers responded to shots fired after 1 a.m. at East Central Boulevard and North Orange Avenue. Minutes later, they received another call about shots fired at a nearby area.
Two men were killed, according to WESH. The six wounded victims were transported to Orlando Medical Center for treatment, per NBC News. A seventh victim, according to WESH, sustained injuries due to being trampled. Police confirmed the wounded victims were in stable condition.
Teen suspect’s arrest during shooting incident
Authorities stated that the shooting suspect was taken into custody. The teenager has a record and was previously arrested for grand theft in 2023, a case that remains active.
Orlando police released video footage showing the teen walking through a large crowd while attempting to shoot someone. When gunfire erupted, people ran in different directions, and the video captured a police officer tackling him to the ground, with three others assisting in his arrest.
“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, according to NBC News.
Halloween festivities and public safety in Orlando
Orlando is one of the most popular cities for celebrating Halloween, attracting thousands of visitors for the annual festivities. Such a large turnout prompts a significant police presence to patrol the areas.
According to a report by WESH, here is the latest information about the shooting victims:
— Victim 1: Black Male, 25, Deceased
— Victim 2: White Male, 19, Deceased
— Victim 3: White Male, 18, Shot in lower left leg
— Victim 4: White Female, 39, Shot in left hand
— Victim 5: Hispanic Female, 24, Shot in left leg
— Victim 6: Black Male, 20, Shot in head (graze)
— Victim 7: Hispanic Male, 26, Shot in right foot
— Victim 8: Hispanic Female, 19, Shot in upper back, lodged in cheek
— Victim 9: Hispanic Female, 26, Injuries from being trampled
The post Orlando Halloween Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 6 Injured Downtown: What We Know So Far appeared first on Blavity.
