A teenager has been arrested after a journalist, a nine-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman were shot at different scenes in Orlando, Florida.
The journalist was identified as Dylan Lyons, aged 24, while the second journalist, a photographer, who was also shot is in hospital undergoing medical treatment.
The murder suspect, Keith Melvin Moses, aged 19, a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet, sneered and smiled as he was handcuffed on Wednesday, February 22 in connection to the three shootings which police believe are all linked.
MailOnline reported that the first fatality occurred at 11.17am on Wednesday morning, on 6100 block of Hialeah Street, where Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies found a 20-year-old woman with gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two Spectrum News 13 journalists reportedly gathered at the first murder scene to broadcast on the woman’s death. However, five hours later, the suspect returned and started firing again, gunning down the news reporter and photographer.
At the same time, around 4.05pm, police were called to a third shooting nearby where a mother and her nine-year-old daughter had been shot in a residential house. The child later died, while the mom is still in critical condition.
A Sheriff, John Mina, said that Moses was in some way connected to his first victim but but his motive for the second and third shootings is unclear.
Witnesses said that the teenager approached the news vehicle at about 4pm and opened fire, hitting the two journalists while on duty. Thereafter, he walked to a nearby home and shot the mother and daughter.
The mother and child, nine, were inside a residence on Harrington Street when they were shot. The young girl died, while her mother is still in critical condition.
The Sheriff, Mina, said it was ‘unclear’ why Moses chose to enter the home of the mother and daughter.
According to Spectrum News 13, the photographer is “healing” and has been able to speak with investigators and colleagues.
Moses has already formally charged with the murder of the woman earlier Wednesday morning and Mina expects further charges from the further shootings carried out by the suspect.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the teenager has a history of gun violence, including assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft charges.
The police chief said: “At 19, he has a lengthy criminal history, to include gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft charges.”
Mina added that Moses ‘is not saying much right now’ and they have not been able to determine a motive, nor have they figured out if he specifically targeted the media members.
“It’s unclear why exactly they were targeted, and certainly we’re going to look into that,” Mina said.
Reacting to the shooting, the White House through the Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said: “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,” she wrote.
Lyons’ heartbroken fiancée, Casey Lynn, wrote: “The love of my life was murdered. I will never be the same again.”
