Moment Orlando shooter opens fire on crowd before cop takes him down
by Germania Rodriguez Poleo, Chief U.S. Reporter · Mail OnlineThis is the horrifying moment a 17-year-old opened fire on a Halloween crowd in Orlando and killed two, before being taken down by a hero cop.
Jaylen Dwayne Edgar was arrested after he killed two people and injured six others in downtown Orlando early on Friday, officials said.
Shocking footage released by police shows the suspect in a yellow shirt calmly walking through the crowd of Halloween revelers before he turns around and fires his gun. Crowds flee in terror as the muzzle flash lights up the dark street.
The suspect is seen running with the crowd towards two police cars, getting meshed with the innocent bystanders that were fleeing in panic.
As he pulls out the gun again, a hero cop spots him and quickly tackles him to the ground, disarming him before other officers assist in the arrest.
The suspect could be seen protesting his innocence and appeared to be trying to blend in with other bystanders fleeing for their lives.
Officers responded to a report of shots fired in the city’s downtown shortly after 1am.
A second shooting minutes later happened within a short distance of officers and they quickly made an arrest, the city’s police Chief Eric Smith said during a briefing Friday morning.
The six wounded, who range in age from 19 to 39, were transported to a hospital for treatment and were in stable condition, Smith said.
Smith showed video from street security cameras and a police body camera showing the two shootings and the suspect’s arrest at the second shooting location.
Police used security video to put out a description of the suspect, but the second shooting happened near police and officers saw the attack, Smith said.
Young people - many wearing Halloween costumes - had been out partying Thursday night in the area before the horror unfolded.
'He pretty much walked into downtown, walked into the street and did what he did,' Chief Smith said, adding that the teen suspect did not walk into any clubs.
'Whatever his mindset was, he was going to shoot no matter what,' Smith added, noting that the suspect's motivation is part of the ongoing investigation.
There were more than 100 officers patrolling the crowds estimated between 50,000 and 100,000 people who were out celebrating Halloween on Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Florida State Attorney Andrew Baine said charging the teen suspect as an adult is a possibility but his agency would await further information from the police investigation.
Edgar was previously arrested for grand theft in 2023.
Police have not revealed the victims' names as their families are informed.