The City of Weston is mourning the loss of 19-year-old Timothy Schmidt Jr., a former student of Cypress Bay High School, who was tragically killed in a mass shooting during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando. The City of Weston shared a message on their official X account, expressing condolences to those affected and offering support to families, friends, and the Bay community.
Heartbreaking - We again find ourselves sending our sympathy & prayers to those killed and injured in a mass shooting in Orlando on Halloween. Former Cypress Bay student Tim Schmidt Jr. is among those killed. We send our support to the families, friends and The Bay community. 🙏
— City of Weston (@CityofWeston) November 2, 2024
According to NBC Miami, the shootings, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, claimed the lives of Schmidt Jr. and Tyrek Hill, 25, while injuring eight others. The Orlando Police Department apprehended the suspect, a 17-year-old male, minutes after the fatal shootings. Details surrounding the motive of the shooting remain undisclosed by authorities.
Support for Schmidt Jr. has been expressed on social media, with many Instagram posts remembering him. The Nu Delta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Central Florida has created an online fundraiser to help with funeral expenses. The fundraiser describes Schmidt Jr., saying, "He was an extraordinary person, loving son, caring friend, talented soccer player, astounding teammate, kind soul, hardworking student and individual with an extremely warm heart and a witty sense of humor," according to CBS News.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said to a statement obtained by CBS News, "The officers responded very quickly, the officers did a great job. They responded right when they heard the shooting. You know, everybody else is running, they're not: They're sitting in position looking for a shooter. They found the shooter."
Sofia Alcala, who works in downtown Orlando, described the chaos, saying she heard gunshots and saw the crowd panic. "Everyone started running," she told Click Orlando. In response to safety concerns, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced a curfew and the end of alcohol sales after midnight in downtown Orlando. State Attorney Andrew Bain is considering charging the teen suspect as an adult but is waiting for more information from the investigation.
