NEW YORK, Fla. New court papers show that the 17-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando told police he’s “had trouble due to the amount of stress he has been under.”
Jaylen Edgar’s arrest affidavit lists what he told police and what other people saw the night of the killing. Police in Orlando say the teen shot into a crowd of people who were out having fun for Halloween. Nine people were shot, and two of them died. As people ran away, they stepped on another woman.
On Orange Avenue near Central Boulevard, a guy in a yellow shirt can be seen to look back, raise his arm, and then shoot. This was caught on video by police. Edgar killed someone and then went east on Central Avenue.
He then turned north on Court Avenue and went by many more companies, partygoers, and police officers before showing up again on Orange Avenue near Washington Street.
Police in that area say they saw the teen shoot again, killing someone and shooting seven others.
Court papers say that the gun was found on Edgar’s right pant leg while he was bound and lying on the ground.
Edgar was later questioned at police headquarters, where he said that “many deaths of loved ones he has had to witness in his life” have affected him and that he has “had trouble due to the amount of stress he has been under.
” He also told police that he went to downtown Orlando with a friend and met other people there. He says he got the gun earlier that day when he “found it” somewhere else.
Police in Orlando say that up to 75,000 people were in downtown Orlando over the holiday. Most of the people who saw the killing either didn’t see it happen or got hurt while running away from the gunfire.
Anthony Berry talked about what it was like for him to get care at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Berry said the suspect was rude and trying to get through the crowd.
Berry said, “He started to get angry with words and raised the pitch of his voice.” Berry said he ducked when he saw the kid pull out a gun. A bullet just missed his head. “Wham!” Berry said, “I just saw a light flash.” “I just feel like my head is a little hot.” That’s how it felt.
Timothy Schmidt Jr., a student at the University of Central Florida who was 19 years old, was killed. Alpha Epsilon Pi Nu Delta Chapter of Central Florida set up a GoFundMe page to honor him.
It says that he was “an extraordinary person, loving son, caring friend, talented soccer player, amazing teammate, kind soul, hardworking student, and person with a very warm heart and a witty sense of humor.”
Tyrek Hill, who was 25 years old, was also killed. In Clermont on Wednesday night, there was a gathering in his honor. His mom said her son was not where he should have been and at the wrong time. He was like a bright light to her.
Hillary Clinton said, “It’s just, it’s hard.” “But I know God will get my family and I through this because of how much love we are getting and how good my son is.”
Edgar is being charged with murder and attempted murder. One of the police officers who arrested Edgar said he had seen him not long before the killing.
An affidavit says that he saw Edgar get on the back of an Orlando Fire Department truck, lay down on a stretcher, and have pictures taken of him. The police officer told him to get down, and he didn’t see him again until the shooting, which happened about 30 minutes later.
He had a different case in front of the judge on Thursday. It was about an arrest for grand theft auto from November of last year. He is being held without bond because he shot someone.
Edgar will be charged as an adult, according to the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
