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At least two dead after Halloween shooting in Orlando

Posted on by Kennedy
At least two dead after Halloween shooting in Orlando

Topline

At least two people were killed and six others were injured after a 17-year-old opened fire during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando early Friday, according to local police.

Important facts

At about 1:07 a.m. EDT, police responded to reports of shots fired on Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Orlando, and “within minutes” additional shots were observed by officers south of Washington Street on Orange Avenue, said the Orlando Police Department on Friday.

The victims ranged in age from 19 to 39, while the six wounded were treated at the hospital and were in stable condition, Police Chief Eric Smith said.

According to police, a 17-year-old was arrested shortly after the first shots were reported. The suspect had already been arrested last year for aggravated theft, which is still being investigated.

Law enforcement is considering whether to charge the suspect as an adult, CNN reported.

Nearly 100 police officers were patrolling downtown Orlando at the time of the shooting as crowds were expected on Halloween, and Orlando police are evaluating whether additional patrols are needed this weekend.

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What we don't know

The suspect's motive was not immediately clear, police said, noting that the 17-year-old appeared to have acted intentionally. Smith said the suspect “walked past several officers” and appeared as if he “actually didn’t care.”

Important background

Measures to prevent Halloween shootings, including police stops and gun-sniffing dogs, are not in place this year because a Florida law allows most people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, Smith said. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 439 mass shootings in the U.S. this year, including 24 mass shootings involving firearms, defined as mass shootings with four or more fatalities. The last mass killing occurred on October 21 in City County, Washington, where five people were killed.

Further reading

CNNTwo people were killed and six injured in shootings in downtown Orlando as crowds gathered for Halloween, police said. A 17-year-old is in custody | CNN

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