ORLANDO, Fla. — The trial continued on Friday for the man accused of opening fire in downtown Orlando on Halloween night in 2024, shooting nine people.
Jaylen Edgar is accused of the shooting that injured eight people and killed two.
The jury heard testimony from survivors, medical experts, and law enforcement investigators.
A forensic pathologist who worked closely with the autopsies in the case gave her expert opinion on the deaths of Tyrek Hill and Timothy Schmidt.
The pathologist testified that Hill’s autopsy showed a gunshot wound to his left eyebrow with no exit wound. Based on her review, she said she believes the weapon used in the shooting would have had to be inches away from his head to cause the injury.
Schmidt was shot in the chest on the left side and through his right lung, according to the pathologist. She said the wound appeared to have been caused from at least 2 to 3 feet away, possibly more.
When asked if the injury was survivable, she responded, “I don’t think so.”
The pathologist said she did not think Schmidt would have been alive for more than a few minutes following the injury.
The jury also saw video of the first interview Edgar had with Orlando police following the shooting.
The more than hour-long interview began with detectives asking Edgar about his personal life before turning their attention to the shooting.
The lead detective testified that Edgar appeared oriented to time and place during the interview and understood what the detectives were asking him.
Detectives asked Edgar about how the night started and showed him pictures from the scene, asking him to identify himself.
Detectives later told Edgar that officers had found a gun on him. Edgar said he had found it that day.
During the interview, detectives told Edgar they knew he was involved in the shooting.
“We know the shooting happened, OK, in downtown. We know you were involved in the shooting, OK,” a detective told him.
Detectives also questioned Edgar about whether he had returned fire.
Edgar was eventually told he would be charged with the murders of two people.
“You are going to get charged with murder tonight of two subjects. And then there were other people who were harmed,” a detective told him.
The jury was dismissed for the weekend.
The defense argued for a judgment of acquittal, but the judge denied the motion.
The jury is expected to return on Monday at 9 am to continue the trial.
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