Victim of Halloween mass shooting in Orlando ID’d as UCF freshman Timothy Schmidt Jr.
A University of Central Florida freshman has been identified as one of two revelers killed during a mass shooting at a Halloween celebration in Orlando.
Timothy Schmidt Jr. had aspirations to “follow in his father’s footsteps as a successful businessman” before he was “tragically and innocently murdered,” according to a GoFundMe.
His heartbroken father, Timothy Schmidt Sr., told The Post Saturday that his 19-year-old son, a talented soccer player, was “one of a kind” whom he had raised primarily as a single dad since the boy was 9 years old.
“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,” his dad said. “He brought everyone to tears. He was my mini me and my best friend. We had such a special bond.”
Schmidt Sr. said he’d already received more than 1000 messages from grieving friends and relatives of his son.
“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body,” his father said. “He was the kindest soul, always trying to help his friends and elevate his friends.”
Schmidt, known by his family as Timo, was outside The Block, a seven-venue entertainment district in downtown Orlando on Friday when Jaylen Dwayne Edgar allegedly opened fire on the crowd of thousands of partiers.
“He was just out with his friends having fun,” Timothy Schmidt Sr. said.
“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 the fundraiser on behalf of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Nu Delta Chapter of Central Florida.
The UCF Student Government had previously shared taht a student was among the two killed, without identifying Schmidt.
“An unwarranted act of violence injured several of our UCF family and took the lives of two individuals, including a UCF student and a member of our Orlando community,” the school said on Facebook.
Schmidt and another man, 25, were pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center following the shooting.
Eight others, ranging in age between 19 and 39, were rushed to the hospital after the incident with varying degrees of injuries, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Two victims were listed in critical condition.
A woman, 26, was hospitalized late Friday morning after she was trampled on by the horrified crowd, police said.
Edgar, 17, is accused of pulling out a handgun and shooting into a crowd at the intersection of Orange Ave and Central Blvd. around 1:07 a.m., authorities said.
He ran, then appeared a block away amidst the mad scramble of the crowd at Orange Avenue and Washington Street, where police said he opened fire again.
Police officers witnessed Edgar shoot his weapon and then tackled the gunman before he could run again, authorities said.
Bodycam footage from officers showed cops yelling at the suspect before taking him into custody.
“Get on the ground!” a cop shouted, with the suspect answering, “It’s not me,” before he was arrested.
“I saw him shoot,” an officer said in the clip.
Edgar was slapped with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six attempted murder charges.
The teen, dressed in a white jumpsuit, was escorted from the police department into an awaiting cop car Friday.
“Whatever his mindset was, he was gonna shoot no matter what,” Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said Friday. “He walked by multiple officers, we followed where he came. He knew what he was gonna do, what he thought his mind was going to do.”
Edgar could be tried as an adult based on “several aggravating factors,” Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain said.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer placed the downtown entertainment district under a week-long state of emergency, mandating businesses stop the sale of alcohol at midnight.
“We recognize there will be impacts to businesses and residents within this area, however, the safety of every person who lives, works, and visits our downtown is our top priority,” the City of Orlando said.
