'I feel like I died too': Families of Orlando shooting victims Dylan Lyons and T’Yonna Major, 9, talk about 'gun violence'
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: The family of the victims who died during a fatal shooting incident in the Orlando area has expressed anguish and frustration over the system’s failure. TV reporter Dylan Lyons, 24, T’Yonna Major, 9, and Nathacha Augustin, 38, died on February 22 after gunman Keith Moses, 19, open fired at them separately. On Thursday, March 2, both the families of Lyons and Major came and held a press conference together to let people know how the incidents have impacted them. “Dylan Lyons is my only son. He’s a devoted son and it’s impossible to describe the relationship he had with my wife. I was often the third wheel in their relationship,” said Dylan’s father Gary Lyons.
“I just feel like I died too. No words can express that as a mother, he was supposed to bury me. I was not supposed to bury him,” added Dylan's mother Beth Lyons. Victim’s fiancee Casey Fite also came forward reacting to her future husband’s murder, “You see gun violence all over the country but you never think it will happen to your family. I would do anything to have my Dylan back in my arms. I love you forever and always my love.” The mother of a nine-year-old young girl, Brandi Major, spoke of T’Yonna’s death, “My heart and my angel and I’m going to miss her so much.” The heartbroken mother left the room after getting too emotional remembering her gymnast daughter who cared for everyone. “My soul is gone,” T’Yonna’s father Tokiyo Major said. “That was my gymnast. I was her number one fan … They took my girl.” He added, “It’s just hard,” he said through tears. “That was my everything — I want the world to know that.”
READ MORE
Alleged murderer Keith Moses returned to the crime scene
The alleged shooter Keith Moses, first killed Augustin in a car around 11.15 am, as per his arrest warrant. He then came back four hours later, entered Major’s home, and shot dead her and injured her mother. After leaving the house, he murdered Lyons and injured photojournalist Jesse Walden, as per an NBC News report.
'The families are united'
Slamming the politicians' Republicans Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott, both families’ attorney Mark NeJame said, “Both politicians have taken to the podium deflecting the issue of gun violence in America.” He further said, “The families are united in their disgust over Gov. DeSantis and Sen. Scott as they seem to be exploiting their dead children for their own political agendas. If DeSantis and Scott truly cared about these victims, then they could have not only reached out to them, but they could have been addressing the issues of gun violence and reasonable and sane gun legislation instead of avoiding the issue.”