Two people have been shot dead and six others have been rushed to hospital after a shooting as people celebrated Halloween in Orlando, Florida.
Aerial footage shows a large crowd of people appearing to run for their lives on Orange Avenue where there are many bars and restaurants. Gunfire rang out by the Block, a nightspot with seven clubs with many revellers dressed up in Halloween costumes.
Dozens of officers raced to the scene of the shooting shortly after 1am and police are now investigating the cause after two were killed and six others were taken to hospital, while a 17-year-old has now been arrested. It is believed that were hundreds of people out celebrating at the time of the shooting.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith confirmed the number of dead while saying a 17-year-old suspect has been arrested and named as Jaylen Dwayne Edgar. "He pretty much walked into downtown, walked into the street and did what he did," Chief Smith said during a press conference on Friday. The police chief also confirmed that the suspect did not enter any clubs.
He said they do not yet have a motive for the suspect but "believe he is the only suspect at this time" and that the victims involved were aged between 19 and 39 years old. Police jumped on the suspect after he opened fire a second time a second time and they were able to restrain him before making an arrest.
"The Orlando Police Department is conducting a shooting investigation in Downtown Orlando," the force said in a statement first thing. We are still gathering information and interviewing witnesses," police said. "We will have more information later this morning."
The police chief also showed videos from the incident and in one the suspect was seen walking with a group before pulling out his gun and firing point-blank at an unsuspecting victim. Then then led to large crowds running away in chaotic scenes.
An emergency call came into dispatchers indicating several people had been shot in the area of Central Blvd and Orange Avenue, said police earlier. "The Orlando Police Department is conducting a shooting investigation in Downtown Orlando," the force said in a statement. "We are still gathering information and interviewing witnesses. We will have more information later this morning."
Images show large crowds gathered around Orange Avenue, which is usual for a holiday weekend in Orlando, and then moments later, suddenly people beginning running. A video published by Fox35 shows dozens of people celebrating Halloween fleeing down the road while there are many videos circulating on social media that appear to show people that have been shot being attended by police.
Also on Thursday night a person was killed after gunfire rang out inside a Washington State mall as the shopping complex was hosting a trick-or-treating Halloween event.
The fatal shooting happened at the second-floor food court of the Vancouver Mall just after 7:30pm local time as shoppers ran for safety out of the building, the Columbian reported. Two people were injured and rushed to a local hospital, Vancouver Police said on X with their conditions not immediately known. According to Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp, the suspect shot one person in the food court and then fired more shots that hit two other people. Arriving officers found one person dead and two injured.
"Vancouver Police are investigating a shooting that occurred at the Vancouver Mall. There are 2 people that were injured and 1 that is deceased. Police are at the mall and the victims have been transported to an area hospital. Police are continuing the investigation," read the post on X by the force.