Update 5:45 p.m.:
ORLANDO, Fla. — A jury found Jaylen Edgar guilty on all charges Monday in the 2024 Halloween shooting that killed two people and injured seven others in downtown Orlando.
The verdict came after several hours of deliberations.
Prosecutors said Edgar, who was 17 at the time, opened fire into a crowd during Halloween celebrations. The state presented eyewitness testimony and videos that prosecutors said showed Edgar firing a weapon.
The defense rested Monday without calling any witnesses. Edgar did not testify.
Sentencing will take place at a later date. Because Edgar was 17 when the shooting occurred, he is not eligible for the death penalty.
Update 3 p.m.:
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Jaylen Edgar, who is accused of shooting nine people and killing two during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando.
Update 11 a.m.:
The defense rested Monday without calling any witnesses in the trial of Jaylen Edgar, who is accused of killing two people and injuring seven others in a downtown Orlando shooting on Halloween 2024.
Edgar did not testify, and his attorneys did not make an opening statement. The judge is now instructing the jury before deliberations begin.
In letters obtained by Channel 9, Edgar said he was experiencing “extreme mental or emotional disturbance” during the shooting but understood that it did not erase his responsibility. His attorney told the court Monday that there was no evidence to establish an insanity defense.
Previous:
The defense began presenting its case Monday in the trial of Jaylen Edgar, the teenager accused of killing two people and wounding seven others during a 2024 Halloween shooting in downtown Orlando.
Jurors viewed graphic video Monday morning showing a victim being shot. Channel 9 is working to learn when the defense intends to rest its case and whether Edgar will testify.
Prosecutors rested Friday after two days of testimony. The defense did not deliver an opening statement at the beginning of the trial and was expected to make its opening remarks Monday.
Edgar, now 18, was 17 when Orlando police arrested him following the Nov. 1, 2024, shooting. He is being tried as an adult.
Edgar faces two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor and culpable negligence with personal injury.
Investigators said Edgar opened fire into a large crowd gathered for Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando. Nine people were shot, including 25-year-old Tyrek Hill and 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr., who were killed. Another woman was injured while fleeing the shooting.
After prosecutors rested Friday, Edgar’s attorney asked the judge to acquit him on seven of the nine murder and attempted-murder counts. The judge denied that request, ruling that jurors could infer an intent to kill from someone firing into a tightly packed crowd.
The judge also spoke directly to Edgar about his right to testify or remain silent, telling him that the final decision was his.
Edgar previously wrote to the judge asking the court to consider his mental state at the time of the shooting. He said he was experiencing an “extreme mental or emotional disturbance” that affected his ability to think clearly and make decisions.
The trial resumed Monday morning. Channel 9 has a crew monitoring the proceedings and will update this story as new information becomes available.
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