Authorities in Florida have arrested and charged a man in connection with a triple-murder on Wednesday. The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, is said to have initially shot and killed a woman before returning to the crime scene hours later to fatally shoot a journalist covering the story. The suspect also shot a 9-year-old girl and her mother in a nearby home, FOX 35 Orlando reported. The 9-year-old died.
The deceased Orlando TV journalist was identified as Dylan Lyons. A colleague journalist who was with Lyons also sustained gunshot wounds. The two were in their vehicle when Moses opened fire on them.
Authorities identified the deceased 9-year-old as T’yonna Major. The other female victim Moses shot and also killed was identified as 38-year-old Nathacha Augustin. Authorities also said that T’yonna Major’s mom is in a hospital in critical condition.
And though Orange County Sheriff John Mina said they are yet to establish the motive behind the shootings, he said Moses was “an acquaintance” of Augustin. Mina also said it seemed Majors, her deceased daughter, as well as, the journalists did not have any connections with Moses.
“The suspect is not saying much right now,” said Mina. “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.”
Following the morning shootings, Moses returned to the crime scene around 4 pm when local news media platforms were getting ready to report live on the initial homicide incident, Mina said, per FOX 35 Orlando.
“He returns to the scene. He goes to the vehicle where the news media people are at, he shoots both the people from News 13,” Mina added.
Mina said Moses, who was later arrested, has a “lengthy criminal history to include gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and grand theft charges.”
The incident is currently under investigation, and authorities are trying to locate witnesses. “I want to acknowledge what a horrible day this has been for our community and our media partners. I work closely with all of you and know many of you and know the very difficult job that you do and also the very important job that you do for our community,” the sheriff said.
