UCF student among 2 killed in downtown Orlando mass shooting
A devastating mass shooting during a Halloween celebration in downtown Orlando on November 1, 2024, left two men dead, including 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr. , a freshman at the University of Central Florida, and 25-year-old Tyrek Hill. The shooting, which broke out just after 1 a. m. , resulted in a total of nine people being shot, with seven others injured in the chaos.
Eyewitness accounts highlight the panic that ensued as gunfire erupted amidst a crowd of thousands. Police quickly apprehended a suspect, 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, who now faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. In a show of community support, a GoFundMe campaign for Schmidt's family has raised over $37,000 in the wake of this tragedy. The incident has reignited discussions around public safety and gun violence in Florida. With two individuals reported in critical condition, the community remains shaken and seeks answers.
The Orlando Police Department is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, but details about Hill remain scarce.