The Orlando community is mourning the victims of the downtown mass shooting

The Orlando Police Department has released the names of two young men who were killed in a mass shooting that disrupted Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando. According to FOX 35 Orlandothey were 25-year-old Tyrek Hill and 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr. The latter was recognized as a freshman at the University of Central Florida. A GoFundMe campaign organized in his memory described Schmidt Jr. as “a remarkable person, a loving son, a caring friend, a talented soccer player, an amazing teammate, a kind soul, a hardworking student and someone with an incredibly warm heart and witty sense of humor. ” The campaign has already raised over $40,000.

According to ClickOrlandoPolice arrested 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar in connection with the incident and are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Although he is currently in a juvenile detention center, there is a possibility that he will be tried as an adult. Edgar waived his right to appear at his first court hearing on Saturday. Instead, his mother and a public defender were present in court.

On the night of the violence, downtown Orlando was crowded with thousands of closed celebrations. Chaos broke out around 1:07 a.m. when gunfire began at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Blvd. The suspect continued his rampage minutes later near Orange Avenue and Washington Street, near where a group of Orlando police officers were stationed. Surveillance and body camera footage captured the chaotic scene and the immediate response from authorities. According to reports from local news outlets, this is the second mass shooting in downtown Orlando since 2022.