Flowers and notes were left at a small makeshift memorial in front of the emergency room at Orlando Regional Medical Center Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. A TV journalist and a child were shot and killed yesterday and several others were injured at a scene where a woman was found murdered earlier in the day. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
At least three people are dead after a gunman went on a rampage in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.
Keith Melvin, 19, has been charged in the shooting death of a 38-year-old woman. Melvin was picked up by a cousin who spotted him walking down the street and allegedly without warning shot and killed Nathacha Augustin who had been riding in the front seat.
He is accused of then returning to the scene later where he fired shots into an unmarked TV news vehicle, killing Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons. A second victim, photographer Jesse Walden, was wounded.
"[Lyons] took his job very seriously. He loved his career. He loved what he did," Josh Miller, Spectrum Sports 360 reporter, told the Associated Press. "He loved the community, telling the stories of people, reporting the news and he was just passionate about what he did."
Melvin then allegedly went into a nearby home and shot and killed 9-year-old T’yonna Major while wounding her mother. It was unclear if there was an established relationship in that incident.
He is expected to be hit with a slew of additional charges.
Authorities have not yet uncovered a motive behind the shootings but Orange County Sheriff John Mina has since said they appear to be random acts.
During his arrest, Melvin complained of being in pain and was transferred to a hospital, where he then attacked the medical staff.
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