Man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2024 downtown Orlando Halloween mass shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The man accused in the 2024 downtown Orlando mass shooting was found guilty Monday on all counts, including two counts of first-degree murder.
Almost two years ago, thousands of people were on Orange Avenue for Halloween when Jaylen Edgar, who was 17 at the time, murdered Tyrek Hill and Tim Schmidt Jr.
Watch: Jury reaches guilty verdict in 2024 downtown Orlando Halloween mass shooting trial.
In total, eight other people were shot, two of them fatally, and a ninth person was trampled in the chaos. The victims’ ages range from 19 to 39.
Edgar was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.
The Orlando Police Department said 50,000 to 100,000 people were in the area for a Halloween celebration.
Related: Orlando mayor issues curfew, early end to alcohol sales for businesses near downtown shooting
In recent months, Edgar suggested he was insane at the time. However, two psychologists evaluated him but did not support that claim.
The only way Edgar could have tried to convince the jury of his insanity would have been to take the stand, but he has chosen not to testify.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20.
State Attorney Monique Worrell released a statement on the guilty verdict.
Full statement:
“Today’s verdict represents accountability for a horrific act of violence that turned a night meant for community, celebration, and joy into one of unimaginable loss. What should have been an ordinary Halloween evening in downtown Orlando – families out together, friends celebrating, our community simply enjoying itself – instead became a night that forever changed the lives of innocent victims, their families, and our entire community.
No verdict can undo the suffering caused by these crimes. But this verdict ensures that the defendant is held accountable for the choices he made and the devastating consequences of those choices – consequences that will also be carried by his own family. A reminder that violence leaves a wound far wider than the person who commits it.
I am proud of the prosecutors who handled this case with determination, compassion, and professionalism, and I want to thank the Orlando Police Department, investigators, first responders, and every law enforcement professional who worked tirelessly to bring this case before a jury.
Most importantly, today is about the victims. It is about the lives that were stolen and can never be given back. It is about the survivors who will carry these wounds, seen and unseen, for the rest of their lives. It is about the families who will set an empty place at every holiday table, who will hear a song or see a costume and be pulled right back to that night. Their strength has carried this case as much as any piece of evidence, and it will carry this community long after today’s headlines fade. We owe them more than a verdict. We owe them our continued commitment to fight for a community where no family has to bury a loved one because of someone else’s violence.”
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