Downtown Orlando shooting live updates: 2 dead, 6 injured; teen suspect in custody, chief says

4:50 am

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said two people were dead and six others were injured in a mass shooting in downtown Orlando where hundreds were celebrating Halloween.

He identified the suspected shooter as a 17-year-old boy. He is alive and being interviewed by investigators, Chief Smith said.

“He pretty much walked downtown, walked up the street and did what he did,” Chief Smith said. He didn’t enter any clubs.

Recording timeline:

• 1:07 am | Report of shots fired in downtown Orlando, near Orange Avenue and Central Blvd.
• Minutes later | Second report of shots fired near Orange Avenue and Washington.

4:45 AM Orlando Police Department Press Conference

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith will provide an update on the downtown shooting at 4:45 a.m. You can watch that press conference on FOX 35, in the FOX Local Mobile/TV Appand in the video player above.

Original story

There is a large police presence in it downtown Orlando after one to shoot was reported early Friday morning.

Orlando police confirmed in a 2:17 a.m. message on X that they were investigating a shooting downtown, where hundreds of people were expected to celebrate Halloween.

“The Orlando Police Department is conducting a shooting investigation in downtown Orlando,” Orlando police said in a statement.

“We are still gathering information and interviewing witnesses,” police said. “We’ll have more information later this morning.”

No other details were immediately released, including whether anyone was injured and whether police were looking for possible suspects. The Orlando Fire Department referred to the Orlando Police Department.

According to the Orlando Police Department website, a shooting was reported around 1:07 a.m.

FOX 35’s cameras covering parts of downtown captured a heavy police presence along Orange Avenue and Central Avenue, near Wall Street Plaza, where there are several bars, clubs and restaurants.

From one vantage point you can see crowds of people walking down Orange Avenue, not unusual for a holiday weekend in downtown Orlando. A moment later, crowds of people suddenly start running.

We then see several police officers running in the opposite direction.

Congressman Maxwell Frost, who represents Florida’s 10th District, posted a short message on X urging people to stay away from downtown. He mentioned reports of several people affected. Police have not confirmed whether anyone was injured in the shooting.

This is a breaking news situation. Stay with FOX 35 News for updates.