At least two individuals lost their lives in a mass shooting that occurred in downtown Orlando during a Halloween celebration on Friday morning. The incident took place outside The Block, a popular nightlife venue featuring seven distinct clubs, shortly after 1 a.m. As hundreds of party-goers, many of whom were dressed for a cash-prize costume contest, were present, gunfire suddenly erupted.
Reports of shots fired reached the police at approximately 1:07 a.m. at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue, according to Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith during a press conference. A second shooting was subsequently reported a few minutes later at Washington Street and Orange Avenue, further south.
Six additional individuals were injured and promptly transported to nearby hospitals, where they were listed in stable condition. The ages of the victims range from 19 to 31 years old. The shooter, identified as 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, was apprehended by police after he fired into the crowd a second time. Edgar had previously been arrested for grand theft in 2023.
Authorities did not observe Edgar entering any of the clubs, and he is believed to be the sole suspect in the incident. Edgar was armed with a handgun. Video footage captured the chaotic scene as hundreds of revelers fled the scene, running through the streets to escape the barrage of bullets.
This story is still unfolding. Please check back for further updates.
Source link: https://nypost.com
