During the early hours of Nov. 1, 2024, a shooter opened fire on crowds of people celebrating Halloween in downtown Orlando.

Partygoers and Orlando residents scattered after hearing the shots fired. Nine people were shot, and one person was trampled while trying to get out of the streets. Two people were shot and killed during the attack, including 19-year-old UCF student Timothy Schmidt Jr.

A UCF graduate, who wanted to remain anonymous, recalled the fear they felt while celebrating Halloween that night downtown with friends.

After hearing gunshots, the graduate and their friends ran into Wall Street Cantina to hide. 

“I had just turned 21 two months ago, and I was so excited to go out for one of the first times,” the graduate said. 

Hiding behind the bar, the graduate and their friends discussed what to do next. 

“We were trying to decide whether we should run, hide or fight, like the UCF trainings tell us. I am so grateful to have that because it let me know what to do in the situation,” the graduate said.

In October 2024, there were 32 mass shootings. As of Oct. 21, there have been 24 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The weekend before Halloween in 2023 saw 17 mass shootings scattered around the U.S., killing 14 people and injuring 94. In 2021, 14 shootings took place nationwide, killing 16 people and injuring 61, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The graduate waited in the bar with friends, listening for sirens to arrive. 

“We heard the sirens come, heard everything, and we knew that it was safe to come out,” the graduate said. 

The graduate and their friends began walking away from Wall Street, trying to find a way home. 

“I remember as we were walking out of Wall Street, people were laughing at us for being scared. In that moment, I thought, ‘When did we lose compassion?’ A UCF student died. Someone’s spouse, someone they love, someone’s son, someone’s friend died that night. Orlando residents died that night,” the graduate said. 

Gun-related injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of death for Americans, according to the 2023 National Vital Statistics Report. As of Oct. 22, there have been 411 mass shootings in the United States, killing 12,036 people, according to the Gun Violence Archive. 

“As we were walking, I turned around and I saw an ambulance plowing down the road. There were already several police cars and ambulances. And I look over, and I see a person under a white sheet,” the graduate said.

That’s a moment the graduate thinks about a lot. “It’s very haunting to know I just witnessed someone’s last moment on this planet,” they said.

The families of the two victims of the downtown Halloween shooting filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Downtown Power LLC, the operators of the Wall Street Plaza entertainment center, for negligence, as they approach the anniversary of when a UCF student was killed, according to public records.

Orlando has seen other instances of mass shootings, including the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016 — Florida’s deadliest mass shooting — and the Fiamma Inc. factory shooting in 2017.

“UCF Police officers remain committed to ensuring safety across all UCF campuses, including UCF Downtown, with continuous 24/7 patrol,” said Amanda Sellers, UCF Public Safety communications manager. Sellers reminded students to stay aware and vigilant of their surroundings and to report any suspicious behavior to authorities.

The Orlando Police Department said in an email sent to The Charge that while security measures cannot be discussed, they do plan accordingly for large-scale events to ensure proper public safety.

“The Orlando Police Department wants to remind our community to always call 911 or flag down an officer working the event if they see anything suspicious. Whether security measures are visible or not, officers are always working on the streets and behind the scenes to ensure the safety of our city,” the department said in the statement.

Ahead of this year’s Halloween, UCF students were asked how they’ll be celebrating. 

Sydney Rucys, a sophomore entertainment management major, started her Halloween plans early. “I’m going downtown the day before Halloween,” Sydney said. “I’m a little nervous to go downtown, but that’s why I’m not going on Halloween.”

Sofia Gonzalez, a sophomore creative writing major, shared a different opinion. “In general, I don’t feel comfortable going downtown. It feels like a scary place,” Sofia said.

Ege Lale, a sophomore aerospace major, has no worries about going Downtown. “I don’t know if I’m going downtown for Halloween, but the shooting isn’t going to affect my decision,” Ege said.

The graduate said they wouldn’t be going out this year for Halloween. 

“It’s a hard reality to face that some place I love so much, and some city I love so much, is filled with danger,” the graduate said.