Florida reporter and girl, 9, killed near scene of earlier fatal shooting
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Orange County Sheriff John Mina during a Wednesday evening news conference on the shootings in the Orlando area of Florida. Screenshot: Orange County Sheriff's office/Twitter
A TV journalist was killed and a crew member was injured while they were covering an earlier shooting incident in Orange County, Florida, on Wednesday, police said.
The big picture: Police said they arrested Keith Melvin Moses, 19, and charged him with murder in connection to the first shooting Wednesday morning. He's expected to be charged over the later shootings of the TV crew and also a mother and her 9-year-old daughter, who died of her injuries.
- Police said they suspect Moses of being the gunman in all three of the shootings.
Driving the news: The journalists, who worked for Spectrum News 13, were on the scene covering an earlier fatal shooting, authorities said. They were "shot in or around their vehicle," Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference.
- "That vehicle was almost exactly in the same spot as the vehicle was from the homicide this morning. So it's unclear why exactly they were targeted. And you know certainly, we're going to look into that," Mina said.
Zoom in: A woman in her 20s was shot in that first incident in the Orlando area and later died, police said.
- A mother was shot and her 9-year-old daughter killed at a third scene, Mina said, but it was unclear why the suspect entered their home.
- The mother and the other TV journalist were in critical condition at a local hospital, per AP.
What they're saying: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted, "Our hearts go out to the family of the journalist killed today and the crew member injured in Orange County, Florida, as well as the whole Spectrum News team."
- "Our hearts are also with the other shooting victims today, their families, and the entire community. Too many lives are being ripped apart by gun violence."
The National Association of Broadcasters offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the Spectrum News 13 crew and to all those affected by the shootings.
- “Journalists play a vital role bringing breaking news to the public, and often putting their lives in danger in the process," the NAB said.
- "This is a reminder of the risks that members of the press face in their efforts to inform the public, and we stand with our colleagues in condemning all acts of violence against journalists."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the NAB and the Orange County Sheriff's office.
