An Orlando 19-year-old with an extensive criminal background, Keith Melvin Moses, has been arrested as the only suspect in a Pine Hills shooting spree that left three dead, including a young woman, a 9-year-old girl and a Spectrum News 13 employee. It was another sad day for our community.
The suspect is in Orange County Sheriff’s Office custody.
“No one in our community – not a 9 year old child or a media professional – should become of victim of gun violence,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said.
According to Sheriff Mina’s office, the three people senselessly murdered on February 22, 2023 by Keith Moses are Nathacha Augustin, 9-year-old T’yonna Major, and Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons. The 9-year-old was shot in her home and her mother was also shot and survived in critical condition. Spectrum News photographer Jesse Walden was also shot and survived in critical condition
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives senselessly taken today,” Spectrum News and parent company Charter Communications said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with our employee’s family, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery. This is a terrible tragedy for the Orlando community.”
We are grieving with our media partners at MyNews13 – and with our whole community tonight,” OCSO posted.
Three people murdered by the acts of one criminal, another example of homicidal rage. At age 19, the extensive criminal background of the suspect was shocking to see. The criminal history for the suspect reportedly began around age 14 and includes gun charges, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, burglary, and grand theft charges.
It is baffling to think a person with that record would be walking free, and in possession of a gun. Many around the community are reaching a breaking point with the violence and are demanding that something be done about the random violent crime happening around Orlando.
“We are saddened by the horrific shootings that took the lives of innocent victims in Orange County today,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “We work daily with our local media organizations to accurately cover the news and it is incomprehensible that a journalist has been killed while doing his job and that a child and a young woman have been killed as well. I offer condolences to the victims’ families and believe that this is a clarion call for our community to do more to stop this madness.”
The County Mayor and Sheriff, along with some select community representatives met to discuss next steps in reducing gun violence for our community on Thursday in the aftermath of the deadly local shootings.
The deadly Pine Hills shooting spree quickly made its way to national news and even to the White House as Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said her thoughts were with those involved. The Society of Professional Journalists also issued a statement about the deadly Orlando shooting spree. Reactions continue to come from all over the country, which may finally expose the ongoing crime and violence problem in Orlando and Central Florida and lead to the change the community needs and deserves.
