- November 25, 2024
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A multiple-victim shooting Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Pine Hills has captured the attention of the nation.
A broadcast reporter and a 9-year-old girl were killed, and a broadcast photojournalist and a women were critically injured Wednesday afternoon in the 6100 block of Hialeah Street in Pine Hills. The shooting occurred just hours after another woman was killed at the same scene.
Spectrum News 13 has identified the murdered journalist as 24-year-old Dylan Lyons. Originally from Philadelphia, Lyons moved to the area to attend the University of Central Florida.
The news channel also identified the photojournalist as Jesse Walden.
The other victims have not been identified as of 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23.
At about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina in a press conference said the agency made an arrest in connection to both the afternoon and morning shootings.
“We have detained the person believed to be responsible for the murder this morning, as well as the shootings this afternoon,” Mina said. “He is 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses. He is being formally charged in the murder from this morning, and we expect additional charges for the shootings of the four people this afternoon.”
Reactions to the shootings came from both local and national leaders.
“We are saddened by the horrific shootings that took the lives of innocent victims in Orange County today,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. “We work daily with our local media organizations to accurately cover the news, and it is incomprehensible that a journalist has been killed while doing his job, and that a child and a young woman have been killed, as well. I offer condolences to the victims; families and believe that this is a clarion call for our community to do more to stop this madness. I look forward to meeting with community leaders tomorrow to discuss next steps in reducing gun violence for our community.”
Town of Windermere Mayor Jim O'Brien said he is deeply saddened by the loss of life that occurred.
"This tragic shooting drives home the fact that violence of any kind, is never acceptable or isolated and has far reaching impacts on our entire community," he said.
Windermere Police Chief David Ogden added on.
"Our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those murdered by such a senseless act of violence," he said. "Dozens of families' lives are forever changed. Today is a time to grieve the loss of those loved ones and for the community to walk beside these families in horrific pain and offer prayers of support. Crime is a community problem, and the community must demand swift and uncompromising justice for these victims."
Winter Garden Police Chief Steve Graham agreed.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families of the shooting victims that were taken from them and for those still recovering," Graham said. "I know they will be grieving along with the Spectrum News Team. This horrible and senseless act of violence is inconceivable.”
Also local, Winter Garden Mayor John Rees said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by yesterday’s senseless tragedy. It is with great distraught that we mourn the lives of those lost and hope for a full recovery of those injured."
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted: “Our hearts go out to the family of the journalist killed today and the crew member injured in Orange County, Florida, as well as the whole Spectrum News team.”
Sen. Rick Scott said: “This is absolutely horrible. My team and I are closely monitoring the situation and keeping these Floridians and their families in our prayers.”
Spectrum News 13’s parent company, Charter Communications, released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives senselessly taken today. Our thoughts are with our employee’s family, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time. We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery. This is a terrible tragedy for the Orlando community.”
