Keith Melvin Moses: Suspect, 19, wanted in fatal shooting guns down girl, 9, and journalist who covered crime scene
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: A journalist, along with a nine-year-old girl and a woman, got killed in a shooting spree in Pine Hills on Wednesday afternoon, February 22. Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the suspect as 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, who got arrested and charged with murder in connection to the shooting.
The suspect allegedly attacked the team of Spectrum News 13 in a vehicle at around 4 pm on February 22, according to the Mirror. Following this, the suspect then left the scene and shot a mother and daughter inside a house. "At 4.05, we received 911 calls about another shooting at that location and a shooting nearby," said the sheriff, as quoted by ABC 13. Detectives responded to the scene and found the girl and her mother with gunshot wounds. The victims were rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center. However, the nine-year-old girl later died and her mother is still in critical condition.
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What caused the Orlando shooting?
Multiple reports suggest that two Spectrum News 13 journalists were covering the killing of a woman in the area who was shot hours before this incident occurred. Deputies first responded to the Pine Hills area when a 20-year-old woman was shot, according to NPR. The sheriff said, "[Moses] 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."
WFTV crews, who were also reporting at the scene, tried to give medical aid to the Spectrum 13 journalists. However, one of them died and another is in critical condition, reports NPR.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted condolences, saying, "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."
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
Who is Keith Melvin Moses?
Talking about Moses, the sheriff said, "The suspect is not saying much right now. It's hard to know if he was targeting this news crew. Again, that will all be a part of our investigation. I was out at the scene and the vehicle doesn't really look like a news vehicle to me, but then again, there was a photographer there so that's possible."
The sheriff further said Moses has a lengthy criminal history. "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," the sheriff detailed.
This is 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, the suspect in a series of shootings today that left three dead, in OCSO custody. This is a sad day for our community. Three were murdered today, including a woman in her 20s, a 9-year-old girl and a @MyNews13 employee. pic.twitter.com/DXXkxzRHl5
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) February 23, 2023