ORLANDO, Fla. — A 17-year-old male has been formally charged as an adult following a shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left seven others injured during a large Halloween gathering in downtown Orlando, which attracted approximately 75,000 people. The announcement was made by the local prosecutor on Monday.
The suspect, identified as Jaylen Edgar, faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. However, the case is set to be presented to a grand jury, which may decide to elevate the charges to first-degree murder, according to State Attorney Andrew Bain. “This decision was not made lightly and came only after a thorough review of all available evidence,” Bain remarked during a press briefing in Orlando.
Edgar allegedly opened fire at the Halloween event, which featured many attendees in costume, in the downtown area’s popular bar and restaurant district early Friday morning. In addition to the two deceased men, another seven bystanders sustained injuries, and one woman was injured in the chaos as people fled the scene, as reported by the Orlando Police Department. It was noted that one of the deceased, along with another injured victim, were students at the University of Central Florida.
Law enforcement personnel swiftly tackled Edgar at the scene; over 100 police officers were on patrol during the event. Several factors influenced the decision to charge him as an adult, including what prosecutors described as the “brazen nature of the crime” alongside the fact that multiple individuals were hurt.
“Discharging a firearm into a crowded area displays a total disregard for human life, necessitating adult charges due to the severe nature of the offense,” Bain emphasized. He referred to the violence as a “blatant execution in the middle of our streets,” asserting that such behavior is unacceptable in the community.
There is currently no online court record for Edgar, making it unclear whether he has legal representation. Additionally, this case began in juvenile court, where proceedings are not publicly accessible. A request for information sent to the Orange County Public Defender’s office has yet to receive a response.
Bain declined to comment on whether authorities had determined a motive and indicated that investigators were still looking into how Edgar acquired the firearm used in the shooting. This annual Halloween celebration, considered one of central Florida’s most significant events, occurs approximately 10 miles from Orlando’s main tourist district and primarily draws local residents.
In the wake of the tragedy, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a local state of emergency for the downtown entertainment sector on Friday. This emergency order will last for one week, during which alcohol sales are prohibited after midnight, and a curfew will be in place from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
In prior years, law enforcement would restrict access to downtown streets and utilize dogs to check for weapons as attendees entered the event; however, this practice ceased following the passage of a law allowing concealed carry without permits in Florida in 2023.