Florida gunman goes on shooting spree killing at least 3 victims
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A TV reporter and a 9-year-old child are among those killed in Orange County by a 19-year-old killing spree suspect.
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Keith Melvin Moses, 19, identified by the Orange County Sheriff's Office as the suspect in a series of shootings in Orange County, Florida, U.S., is seen in this handout photo released February 22, 2023. Orange County Sheriff's Office (Reuters)
A gunman in Orange County, Florida went on a shooting spree as he injured two people and killed at least three people throughout the day including a TV reporter and a 9-year-old girl, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The shooter began his shooting spree in the morning when he killed a 20-year-old, with whom he seemed to be acquainted. Later that day, the shooter went back to the crime scene and killed a TV reporter who was reporting the murder, and a 9-year-old girl who lived nearby.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said that the 19-year-old suspect, Keith Melvin Moses is currently in police custody. Moses' motive is yet to be determined.
Read more: Guns wound, kill over 6,000 children in the US
"The suspect in a series of shootings today that left three dead, including a woman in her 20s, a 9-year-old girl, and a News 13 employee. We extend our deepest condolences to all of their families," the sheriff's office said Wednesday.
The mother of the 9-year-old and a photographer who worked with the slain News 13 reporter were also shot. The reporter and the photographer were shot while they were in their vehicle.
The suspect has a long criminal history of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, grand theft, and gun violations.
A News 13 reporter broke into tears as she was covering the news of her slain colleague as she stressed the difficulty to cover such a story, adding that it was very emotional at Orlando Regional Medical Center where the reporter's loved ones stood.
Read more: Deadly year for journalists in 2022: CPJ
“No one in our community — not a mother, not a 9-year-old, and certainly not news professionals — should become the victim of gun violence in our community,” said Mina.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, offered her condolences to the victims' families and the Spectrum News team.
Our hearts go out to the family of the journalist killed today and the crew member injured in Orange County, Florida, as well as the whole Spectrum News team.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) February 23, 2023
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