Orange County Sheriff Keith Melvin Moses.
Keith Melvin Moses was named by the Orange County sheriff as the 19-year-old man accused in the murder of a Spectrum News 13 television employee, a 9-year-old girl, and a 38-year-old woman in Orlando, Florida, on February 22, 2023.
The Spectrum News 13 reporter has been identified by his family as 24-year-old Dylan Lyons. He was a Philadelphia native and graduate of the University of Central Florida who began working at the news station as a multimedia journalist in July 2022, according to the station’s website. You can read about his life here.
T’Yonna Major, the 9-year-old girl who was killed, was an aspiring gymnast, according to NBC News. You can read about her life here.
The Orange County Sheriff identified the other deceased victim as 38-year-old Nathacha Augustin.
The Sheriff’s Department also released video showing the arrest of suspect Keith Melvin Moses.
WESH reporter Luana Munoz said Lyons leaves behind a fiancé. She broke down emotionally as she reported on the shootings outside the hospital. “It is very emotional here,” she said.
Twitter/Dylan LyonsDylan Lyons.
“This is every reporter’s absolutely worst nightmare,” Munoz said. “We go home at night afraid that something like this will occur, and that is what happened here.” She said “a fellow reporter has died while out covering a shooting.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said in a February 22, 2023, news conference that Moses is accused of shooting five people; three have died, the 38-year-old woman, 9-year-old girl and the reporter.
The 9-year-old girl’s mother and a second news crew employee are still alive but are in critical condition, Mina said. Four of the shootings were random and involved victims whom Moses didn’t previously know, according to Mina. Moses is in custody, the sheriff said.
“The same suspect Mr. Moses is responsible for all those shootings,” Mina said in the news conference. “What a horrible day this has been for our community and our media partners,” Mina said.
Here’s what you need to know about Keith Moses and the Orlando shooting spree:
1. The Sheriff Says Keith Melvin Moses First Shot a 38-Year-Old Woman Who Was His Acquaintance
According to Mina’s news conference, on February 22, 2023, at 11 a.m., deputies responded to Hialeah Street for the report of the first shooting.
Once there, they found a woman who was shot and who succumbed to her injuries, according to the sheriff. Moses was an acquaintance of that woman, said Mina. Homicide detectives responded to the scene, and they developed good leads on the suspect, he said. The sheriff initially said she was 20 years old, but a later update said she was 38.
“This is a tragic and sad day, especially for those in the Orange County community. Hard to put all of this into words right now, but we ask for your prayers for the impacted families and for those that are injured fighting for their lives,” The Florida Sheriffs Association tweeted.
2. The News Crew Was Covering the Homicide, But It’s Not Clear Whether Keith Melvin Moses Targeted Them Because They Were Journalists, the Sheriff Says
At 4:05 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department began getting 911 calls about another shooting at that location and a shooting nearby, according to Mina. That’s when they found a News 13 reporter and photographer shot in or near a vehicle, according to the sheriff. The sheriff confirmed that one of the News 13 crew members has died, but he didn’t say whether it was the reporter or photographer. He was later identified as Lyons, who was a reporter.
He said the news crew was “on the scene” to cover the earlier homicide.
“It’s hard to know if he was targeting this news crew,” the sheriff said of Moses. He said the news crew’s vehicle “doesn’t really look like a news vehicle,” but a photographer was there, “so it’s possible.” He also said “it’s possible he could have mistaken them for law enforcement.”
Greg Angel, a reporter and anchor for News 13, wrote on Facebook, “Life is fragile. We were just talking to our colleagues – friends – this afternoon. Life was normal. And now, life is not normal.”
He said the surviving news photographer has “been able to speak with investigators and colleagues. Great sign. But lots of procedures and healing to come. They’re not alone. A 9 year old girl has also died. Her mother is also in the care of doctors.”
Angel said the vehicle carrying the news employees was “unmarked.”
“There are no words. Truly no words,” he said. “I do want to say thank you to those media colleagues who reportedly saw what happened and immediately jumped in to help. Provided critical help that may have saved at least one life.”
3. The Sheriff Says Keith Moses Entered a Random Home Next & Shot the Child & Woman
According to the sheriff, the mother and 9 year old girl were shot inside a home. He said it was unclear why the suspect entered the home. Moses did not know that woman or child, according to Mina.
The mother is in critical condition, Mina said.
“He walks into the house and shoots the 9 year old and the mom,” the sheriff said.
4. Keith Melvin Moses Has a Lengthy Criminal History, the Sheriff Says
Moses has a lengthy criminal history, including gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft charges, Mina said in the news conference.
When deputies arrested Moses, he was armed with a handgun, Mina said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department initially tweeted, “ALERT: Multiple people shot on Hialeah Street, same scene as a homicide earlier today. One person has been detained.”
It’s not clear where Moses lived before; the only criminal case that comes up for Keith Moses, 19, in Orange County, Florida, court records is a misdemeanor drug case.
5. A News 13 Journalist Says Station Employees Gathered in a Circle & Prayed
Celeste Springer, a News 13 reporter, said on air that the station’s employees sat in a circle and “said a quick prayer.”
“This is extremely devastating for all of us,” she said, calling the news crew a family.
“Please say a prayer for every victim of gun violence in America,” Springer said, also requesting prayers for the news photographer who remains in critical condition.
The surviving victims were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the sheriff.
Mina said sheriff’s officials have detained the man they believe was responsible for the crime spree. He then named Keith Melvin Moses and said he was formerly charged with the first murder on the morning of February 22, 2023.
According to the sheriff, charges are expected soon in the other shootings.
READ NEXT: Remembering the 9-Year-Old Girl Who Was Shot in Orlando.