Two people have tragically lost their lives, with six more in hospital, following a Halloweenshooting in Orlando, Florida. Aerial footage captured the chilling scene as crowds fled for safety on Orange Avenue, a popular area filled with bars and restaurants.
The sound of gunfire echoed around the Block, a hotspot housing seven clubs, where party-goers were enjoying Halloween festivities. Police rushed to the scene shortly after 1am, responding to the deadly incident, which resulted in two people dying and six being injured.
A 17-year-old has since been arrested in connection with the crime. It’s estimated that hundreds were out celebrating at the time of the shooting, reports the Mirror.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith confirmed the death toll and identified the arrested suspect as Jaylen Dwayne Edgar. At a press conference, Chief Smith said: “He pretty much walked into downtown, walked into the street and did what he did.”
He also clarified that the suspect did not enter any clubs. While a motive is yet to be established, authorities “believe he is the only suspect at this time”
The victims ranged in age from 19 to 39 years old. Officers managed to subdue the suspect after he opened fire a second time, successfully restraining him before making an arrest.
“The Orlando Police Department is conducting a shooting investigation in Downtown Orlando,” the force announced in an early morning statement. “We are still gathering information and interviewing witnesses.”
An emergency call was received by dispatchers reporting that multiple people had been shot in the area of Central Blvd and Orange Avenue, according to police. Images reveal large crowds gathered around Orange Avenue, typical for a holiday weekend in Orlando, before people suddenly began to run.
A video released by Fox35 shows dozens of Halloween revellers fleeing down the road, while numerous videos on social media appear to show victims being attended to by police.
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