Little T'yonna Major's chilling last words: Heartbroken mom of 9-yr-old killed by Keith Moses recalls her final cry
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: A nine-year-old girl who was shot in her home by a spree killer reportedly cried out in pain to her mother moments before succumbing to her injuries. T'yonna Major, Natacha Augustin, 38, and Dylan Lyons, 24, were killed Wednesday afternoon, February 22, in a shooting rampage in Pine Hills.
T'yonna Major was preparing for her dance practice when suspect Keith Melvin Moses, 19, broke into her home. T'yonna's mother was sleeping when she heard her daughter scream, "He shot me!" The panicked mother heard the gunshots, grabbed T'yonna and hid in the bathroom until help arrived. Sadly, the nine-year-old died shortly thereafter. At the same time, Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the suspect as Keith, who was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting.
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What happened during the shooting in Orlando?
The killing spree began around 11.15 am when police officers responded to a 38-year-old Natacha who had been shot. Witnesses stated that she fell out of a car after being fatally wounded. Officers were gathering evidence and working leads to identify the shooter when they received another call about a shooting. Two Spectrum News 13 journalists were covering the killing of Natacha in the area when the suspect Keith shot reporter Dylan Lyons and his fellow photographer Jesse Walden. Dylan died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
A 'senseless' killing spree
Panic-stricken officers then received a 911 call of a third shooting in the same neighborhood. Officials responded to the scene and found the victims and rushed the victims to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Shotly, T'yonna was pronounced dead. Authorities said T'yonna, Dylan, and Natacha were "senselessly murdered" by Keith. Cops are probing a motive for the alleged murders. Sheriff Mina said "[Keith] was an acquaintance of the woman this morning, but as far as we know, had no connection to the reporters and no connection to the mother and the 9-year-old," according to NPR.
“It's unclear why exactly they were targeted, and certainly we're going to look into that,” Sheriff Mina said. At the time of his arrest, police said he behaved strangely and "made hand symbols of guns as he pointed the gun at his head" while being evaluated at a hospital. Nevertheless, the suspect has a long-criminal history. The sheriff detailed, "At 19, he has a lengthy criminal history to include gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and grand theft charges."