A 17-year-old boy accused of a mass shooting in downtown Orlando that left two men dead, and eight others wounded, will be charged as an adult.
On Monday, November 4, the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit announced that Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17, has been charged as an adult in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred early in the morning on Friday, November 1, as Halloween festivities were underway.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded to a shooting incident near the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue at around 1:05 a.m. on November 1.
Within minutes, officers witnessed a second shooting on Orange Avenue, south of Washington Street.
A total of nine victims sustained gunshot wounds. Two of those victims – a 19-year-old man and 25-year-old man – were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Another victim sustained injuries after being trampled as a crowd attempted to flee from the area following the gunshots.
At the time of the shooting, nearly 100 officers were on patrol in the downtown Orlando area due to a large crowd that was gathered for Halloween.
Shortly after shots were fired, officers located a male suspect, and he was taken into custody at the intersection of Washington Street and Orange Avenue. He was later identified by law enforcement as Edgar.
On November 4, Edgar was formally charged as an adult, and he is facing the following charges: two counts of second-degree murder with a firearm and one count of attempted murder with a firearm.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, additional charges against Edgar are expected in the coming weeks.
State Attorney Andrew Bain said on November 4 that the decision to charge Edgar as an adult was “not made lightly.” He further stated that he “personally reviewed all available records and video evidence in this case,” which left “no question [that] this individual should be charged as an adult.”
Orlando police estimate that approximately 75,000 people were in the downtown area on the night of the shooting.
“To shoot into a massive crowd like that shows a total disregard for life,” said Bain. He added that the “only recourse is to charge the defendant as an adult because it fits the egregious nature of the crime.”
Prosecutors are working with the Orlando Police Department as the investigation into the deadly shooting continues.
If anyone has any videos or pictures from the night of the shooting that would assist detectives in the investigation, the Orlando Police Department asks that you call its non-emergency line at 321-235-5300.
OPD encourages anyone suffering with trauma from this tragic shooting to reach out to the Victim Service Center of Central Florida at 407-500-HEAL(4925).