A 17-year-old Florida teen, Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, has been charged in the mass shooting at Orlando’s Halloween celebration, which resulted in two deaths and six injuries. People who knew him described him as a “ticking time bomb” with a history of behavioral issues.
Edgar has been charged as an adult with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder.
Over the weekend, the teen’s mother appeared in court on his behalf to address the initial juvenile charges.
According to Veronica Gutierrez, who has known Edgar since he was young, he had a troubled past, moving between different school districts during his elementary and middle school years. “He was always getting in trouble,” Gutierrez said. “He had a temper and was just not someone who could be controlled.”
Another friend, Louis Acevedo, commented that it was only a matter of time before Edgar got into serious trouble. “He was angry, always ready for a fight. He was a ticking time bomb,” Acevedo said.
Edgar allegedly opened fire during a Halloween street celebration in downtown Orlando, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. He was apprehended by police officers at the scene.
State Attorney Andrew Bain emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “To shoot into a massive crowd like that shows a total disregard for life… This was a blatant execution in the middle of our streets.”
Edgar has not entered a plea and will remain in custody with no bond. It is currently unknown if he has legal representation.
