9-year-old TV news staffer among 3 killed in Orlando shooting

A 9-year-old girl and a member of the local TV crew were among three people killed and two others injured in a shooting in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, authorities said.

Keith Melvin Moses, 19, has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference.

Moïse allegedly shot and killed a woman in her 20s on Wednesday morning, Mina said, and police were called later that day to two more shootings near the scene. Mina said Moses was formally charged with the murder that morning and authorities expected additional charges for the four afternoon shootings.

In one house, a 9-year-old child and his mother were shot, Mina said, while at another nearby scene, members of the Spectrum News 13 crew covering the previous shooting were shot near their vehicle .

Mina said the murderous rampage began at 11 a.m. local time when deputies responded to a shooting and discovered a woman in her 20s who had been shot.

Moïse knew this victim, Mina said. Then, shortly after 4 p.m., deputies received another call about two more shootings in close proximity to each other.

At one location, deputies found a reporter and photographer from Spectrum News 13 – who were on the scene covering the homicide that had occurred earlier in the morning – shot dead in or near their news vehicle, Mina said.

Mina said it was unclear why the Spectrum News 13 crew members were being targeted, or if the suspect even knew if they were with the media.

After being taken to hospital, one of News 13’s employees died from his injuries, Mina said. Spectrum News 13 said on its website that they were not yet releasing any information about the crew members involved in the shooting.

Authorities also discovered a woman and her 9-year-old daughter inside a nearby home who had been shot. Mina said the 9-year-old died in hospital, as his mother continued to “fight for her life”.

“It is not known why the suspect entered this house,” Mina said. The sheriff said they don’t yet know if the suspect was related to the news crew or the mother and daughter.

Mina added that Moses had a lengthy criminal record that included firearms charges and charges of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and robbery.

“Our hearts go out to the family of the journalist killed today and the injured crew member in Orange County, Florida, as well as the entire Spectrum News team,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary. tweeted Wednesday evening.

Spectrum News said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives taken senselessly today. Our hearts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of our employees during this very difficult time. difficult. We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery.”