The teenage boy accused of shooting two people dead on Halloween has refused to show up to court – but his mom took his place instead.
Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, 17, who allegedly killed two men and injured eight other people in downtown Orlando, failed to show up to court Saturday morning.
Instead, his mother made an emotional appearance on his behalf according to Fox 35 Orlando. She spoke only to confirm his identity. It’s not known why he did not show.
‘Could you speak into the microphone?’ the judge asked, ‘just take a moment, collect yourself.’
The suspect is expected to be charged as an adult due to the severity of the crimes he is accused of. The judge said he will remain in juvenile custody.
Edgar has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Teenage soccer star Timothy Schmidt Jr. was identified as one of two people killed in the Friday shooting.
The 19-year-old University of Central Florida freshman was enjoying a night out with some friends outside ‘The Block’ – a seven-venue entertainment district in downtown Orlando – when Edgar allegedly opened fire.
Schmidt and another man, identified as 25-year-old Tyrek Hill, were eventually pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Timothy’s heartbroken father, Timothy Schmidt Sr., opened up on the pain of losing his ‘one of a kind’ son in an interview with The New York Post on Saturday.
‘One month before I dropped him off for his summer session at UCF he was the best man in my wedding and gave the best speech ever,’ Schmidt Sr said.
‘He brought everyone to tears. He was my mini me and my best friend. We had such a special bond.’
After the shooting, people in Halloween costumes stood in the incident area as emergency personnel attended to casualties lying in the street.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said at a press conference that the alleged gunman, Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, had been identified and taken into custody.
‘He was just out with his friends having fun,’ Schmidt Sr. said about his late son.
A woman, 26, is said to have been hospitalized after she was trampled on during the chaos after Edgar allegedly pulled out a handgun and opened fire.
The suspect then ran and appeared a block away amid the mad scramble of the crowd at Orange Avenue and Washington Street, where he is understood to have pulled the trigger once again.
Edgar has been hit with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six attempted murder charges.
Police have released footage of the moment he allegedly opened fire on the crowd in downtown Orlando, as well as cops tackling him to the ground and arresting him.
Schmidt Jr. was playing for USL League Two team Weston FC before his tragic death on Friday night. He was also in his first year at the University of Central Florida.
‘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,’ said student Jacob Egozi, who created a GoFundMe to raise money to support Timothy’s father.
At the time of writing the fundraising page, which has a $40,000 target, has brought in just over $30,000.