ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA — A trio of shootings in Orange County, Florida left three dead and two more critically injured, according to reports.
Among the dead were a 38-year-old woman, a 9-year-old girl, and a Spectrum News 13 reporter, according to Spectrum News 13. The network confirmed that the slain reporter was 24-year-old Dylan Lyons.
Spectrum News 13 photojournalist Jesse Walden was also critically wounded, but has reportedly been speaking with colleagues.
According to the network, the journalists were reporting on an investigation into a homicide that had happened earlier that day.
The trio of shootings reportedly took place in a single day, and the suspect is in hand.
He has been identified as Keith Melvin Moses, 19. He has been charged with first-degree murder for the initial shooting, and
At 11:17 a.m., a woman was discovered murdered, shot to death. That woman has since been identified as Nathacha Augustin, 38.
Augustin was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle driven by Moses’ cousin, who picked up Moses to give him a ride because he “seemed down,” according to a court filing.
Things went horribly wrong almost immediately.
“He stated Keith entered the rear passenger side and sat directly behind (redacted),” the filing said according to Spectrum News 13.
“He stated they were inside the vehicle for approximately thirty seconds, and heard a loud ‘bang.’ The witness stated he saw (Augustin) with blood on her face and decided to pull over at 6114 Hialeah Street.”
“The witness stated during those thirty seconds he did not hear any argument between Keith and (Augustin) and they did not know each other,” the filing said later on.
Moses reportedly fled on foot while his cousin called 911. The cousin immediately cooperated with authorities.
The scene of the crime was cleared, but violence was renewed approximately five hours later when Spectrum News 13 was reporting on the case. The crew was attacked, as were a woman and child in a nearby home.
Spectrum News gave the following statement regarding the loss of their own:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives senselessly taken today. Our thoughts are with our employee’s family, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time. We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery.
This is a terrible tragedy for the Orlando community.”
When Moses was apprehended, the Glock in his possession was still hot. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he had to be restrained, attacking employees and even at one point pretending to be asleep while law enforcement tried to interrogate him.
Moses isn’t unknown to law enforcement. According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, “At 19, he (Moses) has a lengthy criminal history, to include gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft charges,” he said according to Spectrum News 13.
What isn’t known, however, is Moses’ motive.
“It’s unclear why exactly they were targeted, and certainly we’re going to look into that,” Mina said.
“(Moses) was an acquaintance of the woman this morning, but as far as we know, (he) had no connection to the reporters and no connection to the mother and the 9-year-old,” he said later on.
If Moses is guilty of all the things he appears likely to be guilty of, it sure looks like he’s completely insane, completely evil, or both.
Let justice be served.