Motive still unknown in downtown Orlando mass shooting. Here’s where things stand

Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17, to be charged as adult

Orlando police officers pile on suspect accused in deadly downtown shooting (Orlando Police Department)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Officials on Monday announced that a 17-year-old accused in a mass shooting in downtown Orlando that killed two and injured eight others, including a victim who was trampled, will be prosecuted as an adult, but questions about the incident remain unanswered.

Jaylen Edgar was arrested Friday in connection with the shooting and faces two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm, along with attempted first-degree murder charges. State Attorney Andrew Bain said charges of first-degree murder must come from a grand jury indictment and additional charges will be forthcoming.

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“What is particularly concerning about these new charges is how someone felt embodied to shoot people at point blank range in public,” Bain said during a Monday news conference.

Orlando police estimated that there were about 75,000 people downtown on the evening of the shooting.

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When asked about a motive, Bain only said that the investigation is open and active and “we’re not releasing a lot of information right now.”

He also stated that Edgar did allow an interview with investigators, but Bain did not release any information beyond that.

“I’m looking for somebody that they know he had that gun. Please step forward, let us know, so we can find the person who gave them that gun,” Bain said.

Bain also said they are looking for any people who were with Edgar the evening of the shooting.

On Saturday, Orlando police identified the two men who were killed in the shooting. Those victims were identified as 25-year-old Tyrek Hill and 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr.

The University of Central Florida confirmed that two students were among those who were shot, including one who died. Their names and ages have not yet been released by the university.

Few details have been released about the victims, ranging in age from 19 to 39.

  • 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. She was not shot
  • Victim 10: Female. Shot, self-transported to a local hospital and in stable condition

The Orlando Police Department is asking the public if they have any photos of video from the evening of the shooting to submit them as evidence by clicking here.


About the Author
Jacob Langston headshot

Jacob joined ClickOrlando.com in 2022. He spent 19 years at the Orlando Sentinel, mostly as a photojournalist and video journalist, before joining Spectrum News 13 as a web editor and digital journalist in 2021.

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