A teenager has been arrested after a journalist, a nine-year-old girl, and a woman, 20, were all shot dead at three different murder scenes in Orlando, Florida.
Keith Melvin Moses, 19, a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet, sneered and smiled as he was handcuffed on Wednesday in connection to the three shootings – which police believe are all linked.
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 then gathered at the first murder scene to begin broadcasting 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, and the mom is still in critical condition.
Sheriff John Mina said that Moses was in some way connected to his first victim – but that the potential motive for the second and third shootings are unclear.
Keith Melvin Moses smirked and smiled as he was taken away in handcuffs after being arrested in connection to the three killings in Orlando, Florida. The terror started just after 11am, when a woman, 20, was found dead on the street with shotgun wounds. Then at 4.05pm that day – as broadcasters gathered to report the local news – the suspect is believed to have returned and started firing again
Keith Moses (pictured), 19, was arrested and is suspected with committing all of the shootings, which took place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday
According to witnesses, the man approached the news vehicle around 4pm and opened fire, hitting the two journalists. He then walked to a nearby home and shot the mother and daughter.
The two male journalists were gunned down while on duty. One of the employees has since died, but has yet to be identified. The second is still in hospital.
The mother and child, nine, were inside a residence on Harrington Street when they were shot. The young girl has died, and her mother is still in critical condition.
Mina said it was ‘unclear’ why Moses chose to enter their home.
According to Spectrum News 13, the photographer is ‘healing’ and ‘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 later shootings. He 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.
A man has been arrested after a TV reporter and a 9-year-old girl were shot dead at the scene of the fatal homicide of a 20-year-old woman that happened earlier that day in Orange County, Florida, all believed to be connected to the same suspect
Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies reported to the 6100 block of Hialeah Street in Orlando at around 11:17 a.m. where they discovered a woman in her 20s who had been fatally shot
Sheriff John Mina (pictured) said that Moses was in some way connected to his victim and noted that homicide detectives had collected evidence, conducted follow-up interviews and developed leads before leaving the premises
Mina said the News 13 vehicle did not look like a typical news van with TV station markings.
The White House has since commented on the shooting via Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
‘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.
‘I want to acknowledge what a horrible day this has been for our community and our media partners,’ Mina told a room full of reporters. ‘I work closely with all of you and know many of you and know the the very difficult job that you do and also the very important job that you do for our community and for law enforcement.’
‘No one in our community – not a mother, not a 9-year-old and certainly not news professionals – should become the victim of gun violence in our community,’ he added.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina addresses the media during a press conference about multiple shootings
‘I want to acknowledge what a horrible day this has been for our community and our media partners,’ Mina told a room full of reporters. ‘I work closely with all of you and know many of you and know the the very difficult job that you do and also the very important job that you do for our community and for law enforcement.’
Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 13, did not identify the reporter but offered condolences.
‘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.’
According to witnesses, a man approached the news vehicle later Wednesday and opened fire, hitting the two reporters. The man then walked to a nearby home and shot the mother and daughter.
Spectrum News 13 was not identifying the crew members who were involved in the shooting, according to a story on the TV station´s website.
‘Please, please, say a prayer tonight for our co-worker who is in critical condition. And while you´re at it, please say a prayer for every victim of gun violence in this country,’ Spectrum 13 journalist Celeste Springer said during her live on-air report.
Worldwide 40 journalists were reported killed last year, plus another two this year before Wednesday, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Only one of those was in the United States.
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