In a tragic event that unfolded on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, the Pine Hills neighborhood of Orange County was rocked by a series of shootings. The law enforcement officers apprehended Keith Melvin Moses, 19, as the suspect. At this point, the motive behind the shootings has yet to be determined. The community of Pine Hills is left devastated and searching for answers in the wake of these heinous acts of violence.
As the investigation unfolds, more details about Keith Melvin Moses and the events leading up to this tragic incident will likely come to light. We will examine the timeline of the crime, how it happened, and the progress of the criminal investigation so far in this article.
Series of Shootings in Pine Hills: Timeline
Wednesday, February 22nd
Morning (around 11 a.m.):
- A 38-year-old woman is shot and killed on Hialeah Street.
- Homicide detectives responded to the scene, collect evidence, and gather leads on a suspect, according to Sheriff John Mina.
Afternoon (around 4:05 p.m.)
Two shootings are reported, one on Hialeah Street and another on Harrington Street.
Hialeah Street Shooting
- Spectrum News 13 journalists, reporter Dylan Lyons and photographer Jesse Walden, are shot near their news vehicle while covering the earlier shooting of the 38-year-old woman.
- Both victims are taken to the hospital.
- One person dies, and the other remains in critical condition.
Harrington Street Shooting
- Inside their home, a 9-year-old girl named T’yonna Major and her mother are shot.
- They are transported to the hospital.
- The girl tragically passed away, while her mother remains in critical condition, as per Sheriff Mina’s statement.
Tragic Shootings in Pine Hills: Arrest Made
A young man named Keith Melvin Moses, who is 19 years old, is expected to be charged with murder for a series of shootings that took place in Pine Hills, Florida. The shootings resulted in the deaths of an Orlando TV journalist, a 9-year-old girl, and a woman. Another journalist and the girl’s mother were also injured. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the first victim, Nathacha Augustin, who was thought to be in her 20s but was actually 38 years old, was killed early on Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023. Later that day, while reporters Dylan Lyons and Jesse Walden were covering the initial shooting, they were shot in their car.
Meanwhile, a mother and her 9-year-old daughter, T’yonna Major, were shot inside their home. T’yonna was a third-grade student at Pine Hills Elementary School. Sheriff John Mina identified the suspect as a 19-year-old named Keith Melvin Moses. Sheriff Mina stated that the suspect has not given any clear reasons for the shootings. However, Moses had some connection to the 38-year-old woman who was killed in the morning. There is no apparent link between the suspect and the journalists or the mother and daughter.
Moses was apprehended shortly after the second and third shootings. He was found with a handgun during his arrest. The deputies released footage from their body cameras showing Moses being detained while he repeatedly shouted phrases like “They’re killing me” and “I can’t breathe.” The sheriff confirmed his identity based on his previous encounters with him related to other cases.
Keith Kelvin Moses: Criminal Record
Moses has indulged in criminal behavior in the past, like using guns, attacking people, stealing, and breaking into places. In November 2021, he got arrested for having marijuana and drug stuff, but those charges were later dropped. Right now, the police are looking for videos from security cameras and talking to people who saw what happened to collect more proof. Sheriff Mina feels sorry for the community and the media friends who were affected by this sad event. He knows they have a tough and important job to do.
Keith Melvin Moses Pleads Not Guilty
Keith Melvin Moses said he did not commit any crime he was accused of. He said he is innocent. These crimes include shooting and killing a journalist, a young girl, and a woman a few months ago in Pine Hills. Through his lawyer, Moses wrote a message saying he did not shoot and kill the reporter Dylan Lyons and T’Yonna Major. He had already said he was not guilty of killing Nathacha Augustin before. The families of Dylan Lyons and T’Yonna Major spoke to reporters and showed their love for their relatives.
They were very sad but also angry about the gun laws in the country. They said that Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Rick Scott did not even say sorry after the shootings happened. T’Yonna’s mom, Brandi, talked about how her daughter loved people and doing gymnastics. She said that T’Yonna loved everyone. Dylan’s family recalled his passion for storytelling as a journalist, his fondness for shoes, and his deep love for both his family and his fiancée.
The lawyer of the families said that the families want to stop more such things like this from happening. They want to solve the big problem of guns hurting people in America. He thinks it’s really strange and not good, especially when things are already difficult in the country.
Prosecutors to Pursue Death Penalty
On Friday, May 12, 2023, State Attorney Monique Worrell said that they want the harshest punishment for Keith Melvin Moses, the teenager who hurt a lot of people in Pine Hills, Florida. They want him to get the death penalty.
Bottom Line
In the wake of the tragic shootings that occurred in Pine Hills, the community is left devastated and searching for answers. Keith Melvin Moses, the individual believed to be responsible, has been taken into custody and is anticipated to be formally charged. Additional information is expected to unfold as the investigation progresses. Rest assured, we will keep you updated promptly as new details emerge.
