ORLANDO, Fla. — Just days ago, a judge sentenced 19-year-old Jaylen Edgar to life in prison for the murders of Tyrek Hill and Timothy Schmidt Jr. and seven counts of attempted murder during Halloween celebrations in 2024.
In the early morning after Halloween in 2024, Teresa Clinton got the news no mother ever wants to hear. Her 25 year old son, Tyrek Hill, had been shot and killed.
Now, amidst a long and painful grief journey, she finds strength in her support system, faith and remembering the man Tyrek was.
She describes her son as a gentle giant, funny, and positive.
“Just an all around loving person. What you see is what you get,” Clinton said.
The Schmidt family received the same horrible news that Halloween. Timothy Schmidt Jr.’s dad remembers him as his best friend.
“He was very unselfish, a very hardworking man, a kid that wasn’t afraid to do anything to help around the house,” he said.
Charlotte Davis showed up for Teresa and her family at Tyrek’s repast. She’s the founder and president of Village of Love, a gun violence prevention and victim advocacy group.
“We’re just there for all of the things that we as mothers know that we dealt with during the time of our loss,” Davis said.
She lost her son, Anthony Nixon, to gun violence four years ago. She too knows first hand what this type of violence does to a community.
“I think that the general concern for people is that they don’t feel safe,” Davis said.
Halloween celebrations continue tonight, but many say they’re hesitant to celebrate in downtown Orlando.
City of Orlando Police said in a statement that the safety and security of everyone is their top priority. They also said the department plans and staffs large scale events based on the need, with room for adjustments.
From January to July 2026, police say crime was down by nearly 20% in downtown Orlando compared to the same period in 2025.
In District 5, which covers the downtown area, numbers from Oct. 7 show violent crime has reduced by 8%.
Shootings are also down 10% from 2025. There have been three homicides in the district this year.
Orlando City Commissioner for the district, Shan Rose, said the Orlando Police Department will continue to monitor downtown on Halloween.
“We also have cameras throughout downtown. There will be a lot of coverage making sure everyone stays safe,” Rose said.
Rose said she’s encouraging party goers to have fun, but be responsible.
Days like today are difficult for Clinton. As she keeps her son’s story alive, she’s calling on the community to come together to address the root of gun violence, especially among the younger population.
“It needs to be more mentorship. We need to get down to the mental state of why they feel like that they need to do this,” Clinton said.
Clinton is also calling for increased safety measures downtown.
Orlando Police say if anyone sees anything suspicious they should immediately call 911 or alert a nearby officer.