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UCF student among 2 killed in mass shooting in downtown Orlando
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UCF student among 2 killed in mass shooting in downtown Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two people were killed in a shootout early Friday. Mass shooting in downtown Orlando They are identified as Timothy Schmidt Jr., according to the Orlando Police Department. (19) and Tyrek Hill (25).

OPD released the names and ages of the two men Saturday afternoon. Additional information about Hill was not available.

Schmidt, of Weston, was a freshman at the University of Central Florida, according to a GoFundMe page set up for his family. Schmidt was motivated by a desire to “follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a successful businessman,” according to a fundraiser organized by Jacob Engozi of Fort Lauderdale.

Two men were among nine people shot — seven others injured — in a brawl that began just after 1 a.m. at Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue during a Halloween celebration attended by thousands, according to reports. Minutes later, more gunshots rang out at Washington Street and Orange Avenue.

According to authorities and surveillance footage, 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar was quickly caught and handcuffed by police as he blended into a panicked crowd trying to escape after the second round of gunfire. Edgar faces two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder and waived his appearance in juvenile court Saturday morning.

Police said the 10th person was injured when he fell and was crushed by the fleeing crowd. According to police, those injured were aged between 19 and 39. The condition of two people was reported to be critical.

As of Saturday afternoon GoFundMe fundraiser Because Schmidt had raised more than $37,000 from more than 900 donations.

“Please join Alpha Epsilon Pi Nu Delta Chapter of Central Florida to raise money for the family of Timothy Schmidt Jr. as Tim was tragically and innocently killed in a shooting in Downtown Orlando in the hours after Halloween on November 1, 2024,” the page reads. ” it was said. . “He was an extraordinary person, a loving son, a caring friend, a talented football player, a great teammate, a kind-hearted, hard-working student and an individual with an extremely warm heart and a witty sense of humor.”

The GoFundMe page says with a goal of $50,000, all proceeds will go to his father, Timothy Schmidt Sr., for funeral expenses and other expenses related to his son’s death.

Schmidt Sr. said he was told his son was shot directly in the heart and probably didn’t know what happened.

She said she received more than 1,000 messages from classmates, former football teammates, coaches, teachers and parents following her son’s death.

“He is the most genuine and caring person I have ever been around,” Schmidt Sr. said.

Schmidt Jr.’s best friend, Simon Gonzalez, was visiting from South Florida and was with Schmidt the night of the shooting but lost him in the chaos.

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The two grew up together, first becoming friends in third grade and then rekindling their friendship in high school. They loved laughing at jokes and spending time at Schmidt Jr.’s house playing football or lounging in the hot tub.

Gonzalez said Schmidt Jr. was the kind of person who didn’t care what others thought. He was an introvert, but deep down he cared deeply for others.

“Tim wasn’t really an expressive person,” she said, “but he actually really cared about a group of people. More than you think.”

On Friday afternoon, UCF sent an email to the university community about the deaths of two people, including the student, although it did not mention Schmidt Jr. by name.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the tragic news that an overnight shooting in downtown Orlando injured many bystanders and resulted in the devastating loss of two lives, including a student member of our UCF community,” the statement said. “Our hearts are heavy with pain as we mourn this tragic, senseless violence that resulted in at least one student being injured and may have affected many students who went out to celebrate Halloween near this incident.”

In response to the shooting, Mayor Buddy Dyer said Friday afternoondeclared a state of emergency for one week In Orlando, alcohol sales are prohibited after midnight in downtown bars, and a 1 a.m. curfew is imposed in the area. The curfew provides exemptions for all commuters, members of the media, and healthcare and emergency workers.

The restrictions are scheduled to end at 5 p.m. Friday but could be extended with a City Council vote.

Although about 100 police officers were patrolling the streets of downtown Orlando during the Halloween event, Chief Eric Smith said Friday he would increase police presence downtown over the weekend. Halloween weekend is traditionally a noisy time in the city centre.

The deaths of Schmidt and Hill brought the total number of homicides in Orlando down to 19 this year, from 35 during the same period last year, according to figures from The Orlando Sentinel.