ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Central Florida television reporter and a girl were fatally shot near the scene of another shooting earlier Wednesday, authorities said.
Orange County Police Chief John Mina told a news conference that they have arrested 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, who they believe is responsible for the two neighborhood shootings in the area. metropolitan Orlando.
In addition to the Spectrum News 13 reporter and the 9-year-old girl, a member of the news team and the girl’s mother were injured in the second shooting. Both were in critical condition at a local hospital.
Mina said that at this time they have no motive for any of the shootings.
“The suspect is not saying much at this time,” Mina said. “We don’t know if he knew they were part of the press or not. We’re still trying to figure this all out.”
Mina said the News 13 vehicle didn’t look like your typical news van with logos for the TV station.
Deputies first showed up Wednesday morning in the Pine Hills area, a short distance northwest of Orlando, after receiving reports that a woman in her 20s had been shot.
Moses “knew the woman this morning, but as far as we know she had no connection to the reporters or any connection to the mother and the 9-year-old girl,” Mina said.
Witnesses said the man approached the news channel’s vehicle on Wednesday afternoon and started shooting, hitting two journalists. Subject later entered a nearby residence and shot the woman and her daughter.
WFTV staff, who were also covering the morning shooting, attempted to provide medical assistance to Spectrum 13 reporters.
Mina said Moïse was already facing a manslaughter charge in the morning murder, with charges expected to be added in the coming hours for the other four victims. Moses’ criminal history includes firearms charges, as well as aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, major burglary and robbery, the police chief said.
Spectrum News 13 did not identify the crew members involved in the shooting, according to a dispatch posted on the broadcaster’s website.