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Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Families of deadly mass shooting victims to sue City, OPD, businesses in Downtown Orlando
The families of the two men killed during a mass shooting in Downtown Orlando in 2024 are suing the city, OPD, and several businesses in the Entertainment District. 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr. and 25-year-old Tyrek Hill were fatally shot while attending the traditional bar crawl on Halloween night. 'This can't keep happening. It's indescribable. What's it going to take? A shooting at Disney? A theme park? In a sports arena, why are the streets not safe, but those places seem to be?' said Timothy Schmidt Senior, father of Timothy Schmidt Junior, killed in the mass shooting. Junior was killed on the same night as Tyrek Hill. The 25-year-old was supposed to open his own business just days later, according to his mother. 'To lose your child like this is the worst thing ever,' said Teresa Clinton, Tyrek Hill's mother. 'We know that we all have to leave here, but what a way to go. Because of someone else's negligence.' Attorneys representing the families claim negligent security and wrongful death; they also claim they have been trying to find out who was responsible for getting event permits for last year's event. 'A number of the members of the Orlando Entertainment District, The Block, which is a loosely organized entertainment district in those private enterprises,' said Michael Haggard, crime victim attorney, when asked about what specific businesses would be listed in the suit. As the legal move starts, the suspect, 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, remains at the Orange County Jail. Edgar faces two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, with a court hearing scheduled for August 25th. The case is scheduled to be filed at the end of the month, as state law requires six months' notice when a public agency is involved in a lawsuit. 'We can point the blame at anybody. But who's going to step up and make a change?' said Clinton. The City of Orlando sent Channel 9 a statement saying it cannot make comments at this time. Channel 9 also reached out to OPD and The Block for comment but has not heard back. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Families to announce lawsuit after deadly Halloween shooting in downtown Orlando
The Brief The families of two men killed in a 2024 Halloween shooting in downtown Orlando are expected to file a lawsuit against the city, police, and event organizers for alleged negligence. The shooting left 10 victims—two dead, seven shot, and one trampled—amid a crowd of up to 100,000 people. Suspect Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17, remains in jail and faces murder charges. ORLANDO, Fla. - The families of two men killed when a teenage gunman opened fire on crowds celebrating Halloween in downtown Orlando last year are seeking to file a lawsuit. The parents of 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr. and 25-year-old Tyrek Hill are scheduled to hold a joint news conference with attorneys Michael Haggard and Douglas McCarron – who represent victims of gun violence – at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday. It will mark the first public statement by Schmidt's parents since their son's death. WATCH LIVE: FOX 35 News will stream the news conference in the video player at the top of this page. Dig deeper They plan to file a lawsuit against the City of Orlando, the Orlando Police Department, and several businesses and event organizers involved in the 2024 Halloween celebrations. The families allege negligence in crowd control, security planning, and overall public safety during one of the city's largest annual events. They are seeking justice, accountability and systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future. RELATED | Remembering the victims in the downtown Orlando shooting The backstory Shortly after 1 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2024, a shooting occurred near Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, sending people running and yelling throughout downtown Orlando. Minutes later, the alleged suspect opened fire near Orange Avenue and Washington Street, feet from a group of Orlando police officers and people milling around downtown. Within moments, the suspect is tackled to the ground and detained. Surveillance video and bodycamera video show the moment the suspect fired his gun, and the moment he was tackled by authorities. The Orlando Police Department said between 50,000 and 100,000 people were downtown at the time of the shooting. Nearly 100 officers were already downtown in anticipation of the busy holiday weekend. The shooting resulted in 10 victims: two were killed, seven others were injured by gunfire, and one was trampled. The victims ranged in age between 18 and 39. What we know Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17, has remained in the Orange County Jail since the shooting on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Police said Edgar was armed with a handgun, though it wasn't clear how he came into possession of the weapon. He did not appear to visit any bars, clubs, or businesses downtown. A motive in the shooting is not known. He has a status hearing scheduled for August 25 at 9 a.m., Orange County court records show. He will be tried as an adult. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the attorneys representing the parents of Tyrek Hill and Timothy Schmidt Jr on June 3, 2025. Additional details regarding the shooting was previously shared by the Orlando Police Department.
