Shootings kill 2 and wound 6 during Halloween celebrations in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two folks have been killed and 6 others have been wounded in two shootings that happened amongst crowds throughout Halloween celebrations in Orlando early Friday, authorities mentioned.

Officers responded to a report of pictures fired within the metropolis’s downtown shortly after 1 a.m. A second taking pictures minutes later occurred inside a brief distance of officers they usually rapidly made an arrest, the town’s police Chief Eric Smith mentioned throughout a briefing Friday morning.

The six wounded, who vary in age from 19 to 39, have been transported to a hospital for remedy and have been in secure situation, Smith mentioned.

A 17-year-old male suspect was taken into custody, mentioned Smith, who confirmed video from road safety cameras and a police physique digital camera exhibiting the 2 shootings and the suspect’s arrest on the second taking pictures location.

After the primary taking pictures, police used safety video to place out an outline of the suspect, however the second taking pictures occurred close to police and officers noticed the assault, Smith mentioned.

“No matter his mindset was, he was going to shoot it doesn’t matter what,” Smith mentioned, noting that the suspect’s motivation is a part of the continued investigation.

A handgun was recovered on the arrest scene and there are not any different suspects, he mentioned.

There have been greater than 100 officers patrolling the crowds estimated between 50,000 and 100,000 individuals who have been out celebrating Halloween on Thursday evening and early Friday morning, Smith mentioned.

Florida State Lawyer Andrew Baine mentioned charging the teenager suspect as an grownup is a chance however his company would await additional info from the police investigation.