A Florida photojournalist is recovering in the hospital after being shot during an incident that killed a fellow reporter.
Jesse Walden was covering a fatal shooting in an Orlando neighborhood for Charter’s Spectrum News 13 with reporter Dylan Lyons when the pair were approached by the suspected gunman.
The gunman, identified as 19-year-old Keith Moses, fatally shot Lyons and critically wounded Walden. He then approached a nearby home, where he shot two occupants, including a 9-year-old girl. The child later died from her wounds.
Local police first reported that a pair of journalists with Spectrum News 13 were injured in the shooting, but did not release their identities Wednesday evening. Spectrum News 13 also did not initially disclose their names. Lyons’ name was first reported by The Desk late Wednesday evening after it was confirmed his family and girlfriend had been notified of his passing.
Moses has been charged in connection with Lyons’ death, according to local police. He has yet to be charged with the death of the 9-year-old girl and the other victim who was fatally shot earlier in the day.
From his hospital bed, Walden remembered Lyons as a good colleague who was fun to work with.
“Dylan was a very, very wholesome person,” Walden said. “He had a great sense of humor too…he had a very strong sense of justice. He would really want everyone to follow the rules when it came to people of power.”
Walden is expected to remain in the hospital for another day or two before being discharged. His exact injury was not clear, nor was it known how long his road to recovery will be once he is released from the hospital.
A spokesperson for Spectrum News called the incident a “terrible tragedy for the Orlando community.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives senselessly taken today,” the spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with our employees’ families, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time. We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery.”
