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Press conference: Families speak for first time after Pine Hills mass shooting
The families of Dylan Lyons, a journalist at Spectrum News 13, and T'yonna Major, who were two of three people killed during a string of shootings last week in Pine Hills, Florida, remembered their loved ones and challenged gun laws in America at a press conference on Thursday.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Fresh off removing one Democratic prosecutor, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is eyeing another over how she handled cases involving a suspect charged with fatally shooting a TV reporter, a 9-year-old girl and a woman last week.
DeSantis’ general counsel sent a letter earlier this week to State Attorney Monique Worrell seeking documents and emails about the prior arrests and prosecution decisions involving 19-year-old Keith Moses, both as a juvenile and an adult. Juvenile records are typically kept private in Florida.
The request from the governor’s office comes as DeSantis fights against what he calls "woke" prosecutors, bolstering his conservative criminal justice platform ahead of an expected run for president.
DeSantis last year removed State Attorney Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Democrat in Tampa, over his signing of pledges that said he would not pursue criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments, as well as policies about not bringing charges for certain low-level crimes.
A lawyer for the families of the slain girl and the reporter said DeSantis and Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who has also scrutinized Worrell over Moses’ criminal history, appear to be exploiting the deaths for their political agendas.
"The families believe this all smells and smacks of political opportunism, by both DeSantis and Scott, and it is appalling to them," attorney Mark NeJame said at a news conference Thursday in Orlando.
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DeSantis criticizes state attorney for not keeping Pine Hills shooting suspect off streets
A battle is brewing between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Orange County's top prosecutor over who's to blame for last week's Pine Hills shooting that left three people dead.
During the news conference, members of the families hugged each other and cried. They described the victims as, respectively, a compassionate storyteller and a little girl with a big heart who loved gymnastics.
"I’m going to miss her so much! She was the best little girl!" T’yonna Major’s mother, Brandi Major, sobbed before leaving the room after being overwhelmed by emotion.
Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons’ father, Gary Lyons, said he was "shocked" that neither DeSantis nor Scott "had taken 30 seconds out of their time" to reach out to his family to say they were sorry for their loss. The family has heard from other political leaders, he said.
MORE HEADLINES:
- Affidavit details moments around deadly shootings of Orlando journalist, 9-year-old girl
- Florida deputies release bodycam of suspect's arrest in shooting of Orlando journalists, young girl
- Orlando community pays tribute to victims of Pine Hills shooting
- 'Lucky to be alive': Florida photographer Jesse Walden describes shooting that injured him, killed reporter
In the letter to Worrell, whose jurisdiction covers the Orlando area, DeSantis general counsel Ryan Newman said her office failed to hold Moses accountable, "despite his extensive criminal history and gang affiliation."
The letter noted that Moses was arrested during a traffic stop in November 2021 for cannabis possession. According to a police report, a deputy witnessed a gun being thrown out the car window as it was being pulled over. The three occupants had ski masks and past firearm charges, including Moses who was on juvenile felony probation.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy charged Moses with a drug offense and not a firearm offense. The case was dismissed the following month after prosecutors concluded it wasn’t suitable to pursue.
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'Shameful': State attorney says Gov. DeSantis politicizing Pine Hills shootings
Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell is defending her team following criticism from Gov. Ron DeSantis after last week's mass shooting in Pine Hills that killed a 38-year-old woman, a 9-year-old girl, and a TV reporter with Spectrum News 13, and injured a TV photographer and the girl's mother.
"Moses should never have been in a position to commit those senseless crimes of last week," Newman’s letter said.
In response, Worrell said the letter from the governor’s office was full of misconceptions. There wasn’t conclusive evidence that Moses was illegally in possession of marijuana, said Worrell.
"The suggestions and accusations that my office’s ‘policies’ promote crime are empty political statements unsupported by actual facts," Worrell said in a statement.
Moses is facing three first-degree murder charges for last week’s fatal shootings of Lyons, Major, and Nathacha Augustin. Also shot were the girl’s mother and Spectrum News 13 photographer Jesse Walden.
In his executive order suspending Warren, the Tampa prosecutor, DeSantis cited state law that allows him to remove officials for neglect of duty and incompetence.
Warren has said the pledges amounted to personal political positions and that his office had applied prosecutorial discretion over whether to bring charges in all cases. He has launched a legal battle in federal and state court to get his job back.