NO BOND. BACK TO YOU. ALAN AND JASON THIS MORNING. WE WILL BE IN COURT WHEN JURY SELECTION STARTS FOR THE MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING A SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. AND THAT ATTACK THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE WHILE CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN IN 2024. WESH 2’S BOB HAZEN IS LIVE THIS MORNING AT THE ORANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. BOB, THE ACCUSED KILLER HERE, TRIED TO GET HIS LAWYER KICKED OFF THE CASE. YEAH, THAT WAS A LAST MINUTE MOVE BY 18 YEAR OLD JALEN EDGAR. BUT IT DID NOT WORK. SO NOW HIS TRIAL AND JURY SELECTION IS SET TO START ON TIME AS SCHEDULED LATER ON TODAY. NOW JALEN EDGAR WAS IN COURT HERE YESTERDAY FOR ANOTHER HEARING RIGHT BEFORE THE START OF JURY SELECTION. HE ALLEGEDLY OPENED FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON ORANGE AVENUE DURING HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS IN TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS. THE SHOOTING KILLED TYREEK HILL AND TIM SCHMIDT, JUNIOR VICTIMS WITH APPARENTLY NO CONNECTION TO EDGAR. INVESTIGATORS HAVE NEVER EXPLAINED WHAT A MOTIVE COULD BE, BUT EDGAR WROTE A LETTER TO THE JUDGE THIS WEEK CLAIMING THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND PSYCHOSIS COULD BE TO BLAME. HE ASKED FOR ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION AND FOR A NEW LAWYER. HE CLAIMED HE TOLD HIS ATTORNEY ABOUT HIS INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, BUT HIS LAWYER WOULD NOT CONSIDER THEM. THE JUDGE TOOK UP THOSE REQUESTS IN COURT YESTERDAY, NOT SATISFIED? OKAY. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME SPECIFIC REASONING BEHIND THAT? YOUR DISSATISFACTION? I FEEL LIKE I’M REPRESENTING. I’M SUPPOSED TO HAVE HIS FULL ATTENTION. CAN BE RELIEVED. HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. NOW. THE JUDGE DID DENY BOTH REQUESTS OF THE TRIAL IS ON TRACK. PROSECUTORS ALSO SAID THEY WANT TO ADD MORE EVIDENCE AND TWO MORE WITNESSES. THE JUDGE WILL TAKE UP WHETHER TO ALLOW THAT TODAY. JURY SELECTION, THOUGH, IS ALSO SET TO BEGIN WITH THE TESTIMONY STARTING EARLY NEXT WEEK. EDGAR WILL NOT FACE THE DEATH PENALTY, EVEN IF HE IS FOUND GUILTY BECAUSE HE WAS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING. COVERING ORANGE
Jury selection begins for Orlando Halloween mass shooting suspect
Updated: 6:31 AM EST Jan 8, 2026
Jury selection is set to begin today for Jaylen Edgar, the 18-year-old accused of a shooting rampage during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando in 2024, which resulted in the deaths of two people.Edgar, who was in court yesterday, attempted to have his lawyer removed from the case, but his request was denied, allowing the trial to proceed. The shooting occurred on Orange Avenue amidst thousands of people, killing Tyrek Hill and Tim Schmidt Jr., who had no apparent connection to Edgar. Investigators have not disclosed a motive, but Edgar recently wrote to the judge, citing mental health issues and psychosis, requesting another mental health evaluation and a new lawyer. He claimed his attorney ignored his concerns about intrusive thoughts.”I’m not satisfied with the representation,” Edgar said in court. When asked by the judge for specific reasons for his dissatisfaction, Edgar responded, “I just don’t feel I’m being represented in the way I’m supposed to, as for the future.”The judge denied both of Edgar’s requests, and the trial is set to continue. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to introduce additional evidence and two more witnesses, a decision the judge will address on Thursday. Jury selection is scheduled to begin, with testimony expected to start on Monday. Edgar will not face the death penalty, as he was 17 at the time of the shooting.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Jury selection is set to begin today for Jaylen Edgar, the 18-year-old accused of a shooting rampage during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando in 2024, which resulted in the deaths of two people.
Edgar, who was in court yesterday, attempted to have his lawyer removed from the case, but his request was denied, allowing the trial to proceed.
The shooting occurred on Orange Avenue amidst thousands of people, killing Tyrek Hill and Tim Schmidt Jr., who had no apparent connection to Edgar.
Investigators have not disclosed a motive, but Edgar recently wrote to the judge, citing mental health issues and psychosis, requesting another mental health evaluation and a new lawyer. He claimed his attorney ignored his concerns about intrusive thoughts.
“I’m not satisfied with the representation,” Edgar said in court. When asked by the judge for specific reasons for his dissatisfaction, Edgar responded, “I just don’t feel I’m being represented in the way I’m supposed to, as for the future.”
The judge denied both of Edgar’s requests, and the trial is set to continue. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to introduce additional evidence and two more witnesses, a decision the judge will address on Thursday.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin, with testimony expected to start on Monday. Edgar will not face the death penalty, as he was 17 at the time of the shooting.