A journalist in Florida was shot dead while reporting at the scene of a fatal shooting that had occurred earlier that same day, with two others also losing their lives.
Dylan Lyons, a 24-year-old Spectrum News 13 reporter was attending the scene at Hialeah Street in Pine Hills at around 4:00 PM on Wednesday (February 22), following a shooting that had taken place at around 11:00 AM the same day, per the New York Post.
As reported by the Daily Mail, shortly after the attack on Lyons - which also saw a photographer injured - the attacker allegedly stormed into a house where he shot and killed a nine-year-old girl and left her mother in critical condition.
The horror began earlier that day when the suspected shooter, 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, allegedly shot and killed a 20-year-old woman who was sitting stationary in her car.
When the News 13 crew arrived on the scene to report the homicide, the suspect allegedly returned to the scene where he opened fire at them.
Officials caught up with Moses later that day and arrested him. He was charged with one count of murder for the morning killing and is expected to face further charges for the second and third shootings.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina, via The Post, said: "At 19, he [Moses] had a lengthy criminal history to [sic] include gun charges, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and grand theft charges."
Mina believes the first victim was known to Moses, but it is unclear why the suspect targeted Lyons and his crew, with officials believing it may have been because they were journalists.
"No one in our community — not a mother, not a nine-year-old, certainly not news professionals should become the victim of gun violence," Mina concluded.
Following the tragedies that unfolded on Wednesday, Spectrum reporter Celeste Springer gave an emotional live broadcast from the hospital where her colleagues are currently being treated.
"This is extremely devastating for all of us, but I’m proud to have such an amazing team backing all of us," Springer said. "We really are such an incredible family here tonight and of course, we’re all praying for our news member who’s in the hospital right now."
Holding back her tears, she went on: "A couple of hours ago before we learned that our news member had passed away, we all sat in a circle here and said a quick prayer and all I can ask for anyone watching at home right now is please, please say a prayer tonight for our coworker who is in critical condition and while you’re at it, please say a prayer for every victim of gun violence in this country."
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Lyons by his sister Rachel, where she heartbreakingly described how great of an uncle the 24-year-old was, and how he leaves behind a fiancé.
Our thoughts are with Lyons, his loved ones, and all those who were affected by these awful acts of violence.
