After two shootings, six people were injured and two others killed in a large group celebrating Halloween early Friday morning in downtown Orlando. Authorities said that a suspect was in custody.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said that shortly after midnight, officers responded to shots in the downtown area of the city. Minutes later, another shooting occurred within walking distance and officers quickly arrested a suspect.
Six wounded people were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in a stable condition. He said they ranged from 19 to 39 years old. Police said that a 26-year-old woman was injured when she was trampled on by the crowd as they fled.
Two men, aged 25 and 19, were killed. The identities of the two men killed have not yet been revealed.
Smith estimated that anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 people were downtown when the shooting occurred, judging from the large Halloween crowds.
The suspect has been identified as a male aged 17 years. Smith stated that he had been arrested for grand theft in the past. No information was available on Smith’s hometown, the charges against him, or the outcome of his other case.
No indication was given as to why he opened fire. Smith stated that the suspect was believed to be the sole shooter. It is unclear whether the victims knew him.
“We had about 100 officers who are working the detail, spread out,” Smith told reporters, adding: “The officers responded very quickly, the officers did a great job. They responded right when they heard the shooting. You know, everybody else is running, they’re not: They’re sitting in position looking for a shooter. They found the shooter.”
The police released footage from street cameras and a body camera that showed the two shootings, as well as the arrest of the suspect at the second location.
Smith stated that a handgun was found at the scene of the arrest.
Andrew Bain, Orange-Osceola state attorney, said that charging the suspect teen as an adult was a possibility. However, his office would wait for more information to come from the police investigation.
Orlando Police said that it will be considering whether or not to increase patrols over the weekend.
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