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Victim of Orlando Halloween mass shooting identified as UCF freshman Timothy Schmidt Jr.

Posted on by Pranco
Victim of Orlando Halloween mass shooting identified as UCF freshman Timothy Schmidt Jr.

A University of Central Florida freshman has been identified as one of two revelers killed in a mass shooting at a Halloween party in Orlando.

Timothy Schmidt Jr. had ambitions to “follow in his father’s footsteps as a successful businessman” before he was “tragically and innocently murdered,” according to a GoFundMe.

His heartbroken father, Timothy Schmidt Sr., told The Post on Saturday that his 19-year-old son, a talented football player, was “one of a kind,” whom he had raised primarily as a single father since the boy was 9 years old.

Orlando shooting victim Timothy Schmidt Jr., 19, with his father, Timothy Sr., who had raised him primarily as a single father since he was 9. “He was my mini-me and my best friend,” Schmidt Sr. said. to The Post. Thanks to Timothy Schmidt Sr.

“A month before I dropped him off for his summer session at UCF, he was the best man at my wedding and gave the best speech ever,” his father said. “He brought everyone to tears. He was my mini-me and my best friend. We had such a special bond.”

Schmidt Sr. said he had already received more than a thousand messages from grieving friends and relatives of his son.

“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body,” his father said. “He was the kindest soul, always trying to help his friends and uplift his friends.”

Schmidt, known to his family as Tim, was outside The Block, a seven-venue entertainment district in downtown Orlando, on Friday when Jaylen Dwayne Edgar allegedly opened fire into the crowd of thousands of partygoers.

“It was a terrible fate to win,” Timothy Schmidt Sr. said of his son’s random killing. “He was just enjoying himself with his friends.”

“He was an extraordinary person, a loving son, a caring friend, a talented football player, a great teammate, a kind soul, a hardworking student and an individual with an extremely warm heart and a witty sense of humor,” said student Jacob Egozi , who founded the fundraiser. on behalf of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Nu Delta Chapter of Central Florida.

Timothy Schmidt Jr. was identified as one of the victims killed in the shooting in downtown Orlando in the early morning of November 1, 2024. GoFundMe
Tim Schmidt Jr., 19, was a talented football player who worked remotely for his father’s company and hoped to follow in his footsteps. Thanks to Tim Schmidt

The UCF student government had previously shared that a student was among the two dead, without identifying Schmidt.

“An unwarranted act of violence injured several members of our UCF family and left two people dead, including a UCF student and a member of our Orlando community,” the school said. said on Facebook.

Schmidt and another man, 25, were pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center after the shooting.

Eight others, ranging in age from 19 to 39, were rushed to the hospital with varying degrees of injuries after the incident, Orlando police said.

Two victims were in critical condition.

Jaylen Dwayne Edgar was spotted walking down the street in a yellow shirt before pulling out a gun and shooting on November 1, 2024. Orlando Police Department
After the first shooting, Edgar fled the area but returned to the street, where he opened fire again. Orlando Police Department

A woman, 26, was hospitalized late Friday morning after being trampled by the shocked crowd, police said.

Edgar, 17, is accused of pulling out a gun and shooting into a crowd at the intersection of Orange Ave and Central Blvd. around 1:07 a.m., authorities said.

He ran, then appeared a block away amid the mad rush of the crowd at Orange Avenue and Washington Street, where police said he opened fire again.

An Orlando police officer tackles Edgar after seeing him shoot into the crowd. Orlando Police Department
“Get on the ground!” an officer repeatedly yells at the teen amid the chaos, according to bodycam footage from the arresting officer. Orlando Police Department

Police officers witnessed Edgar shoot his weapon and then attack the gunman before he was able to flee again, authorities said.

Officer bodycam footage showed officers yelling at the suspect before taking him into custody.

“Get on the ground!” an officer shouted, as the suspect replied, “It’s not me,” before he was arrested.

“I saw him shoot,” an officer said in the video.

Edgar was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted murder. Orlando Police Department
The alleged shooter was escorted from the police station to a waiting police car on Friday. Orlando Police Department

Edgar was hit with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted murder.

The teen, wearing a white jumpsuit, was escorted from the police station to a waiting police car on Friday.

“No matter what his mentality was, he was going to shoot no matter what,” Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said Friday. “He walked past several officers, we followed where he went. He knew what he was going to do, what he thought his mind was going to do.

Edgar could be tried as an adult based on “several aggravating factors,” Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain said.

Tim Schmidt Jr. was just heading out for a fun Halloween night with his friends when he was randomly shot. Thanks to Tim Schmidt
After the shooting, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer placed a weeklong state of emergency in the city’s downtown, mandating that businesses stop alcohol sales at midnight. Brad Perry via Storyful

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer placed a weeklong state of emergency in the city’s downtown and required businesses to stop selling alcohol at midnight.

“We recognize that there will be impacts to businesses and residents in this area, but the safety of everyone who lives, works and visits our downtown is our top priority,” the city of Orlando said.