ORLANDO, Fla. (TNND) – A teenage suspect was arrested after two people were killed and six injured during Halloween celebrations in Orlando on Thursday evening, police said.

Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency on Friday and announced a curfew from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Alcohol sales ended at midnight.

“We do not make this decision lightly and have taken a number of actions before reaching this point following another tragic shooting downtown,” Dyer said.

Orlando police said officers responded to reports of shots fired at Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue at 1:07 a.m. Within minutes, officers witnessed a second shooting south of Washington Street on Orange Avenue.

The six injured people ranged in age from 19 to 39 and were taken to a hospital for treatment and were found to be in stable condition, city Police Chief Eric Smith said during a morning news conference.

After the first shooting, police were able to release a description of the 17-year-old suspect using security video, but the second shooting occurred close enough for police to see the attack and arrest him, Smith added. A pistol was recovered at the scene.

During an afternoon update, Smith said the victim's injuries were as follows: Two were shot in the leg, one was shot in the hand, one was grazed in the head by a bullet, one was shot in the foot, one was shot in the foot Upper back and another was trampled as the crowd dispersed.

Jaylen Dwayne Edgar was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. Police previously said he was arrested in 2023 for grand theft.

According to police, nearly 100 officers were patrolling the downtown area at the time of the shooting because a large crowd was expected on Halloween. An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people celebrated Halloween Thursday night and early Friday morning, Smith said.

During previous Halloween celebrations, police officers cordoned off downtown streets and used dogs to search for weapons as people walked past entry points. But they changed their approach after Florida lawmakers passed a concealed carry law without a permit in 2023, the police chief said.

“We want a downtown that is fun and lively. However, what we have experienced recently is that brazen criminals are willing to come downtown and shoot and kill innocent victims right in front of our police officers,” Dyer said. “It is unfortunate that changes in state concealed weapons laws have made it even easier for people to carry guns and bring guns into the inner city.”

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.