The Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office in Florida announced it will seek the death penalty against 19-year-old Keith Moses.
Moses is accused of going on a deadly one-day shooting spree in the Pine Hills neighborhood back in February, killing three people.
The victims in the shooting spree are Natacha Augustin, Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons, and 9-year-old T’Yonna Major. Major’s mother, Brandi, was also shot but survived, as well as Spectrum News 13 photographer Jesse Walden.
State Attorney Monique Worrell sent out a letter Friday afternoon to explain her office’s decision to seek the death penalty against Moses.
Worrrell says in her letter she is “unequivocally opposed to the death penalty personally, but as State Attorney, is obligated to follow the law.”
Her decision came after a review panel reviewed the evidence and made the decision.
“Each one of these murders was a senseless, unexplainable death,” Attorney Mark NeJame said who represents the victims’ families. “Horrifically we ended up with three deaths. It could’ve been five.”
NeJame said the families were informed about the state’s decision before it was made public Friday.
“The families are all gratified,” NeJame said. “It doesn’t do anything to bring their loved ones back but they believe it’s the appropriate punishment in light of the severity of these offenses.”
Worrell says she “will not be manipulated by political pressure.”
“Unfortunately, amidst this tragedy, a number of politicians including Florida Senator Rick Scott, offered their opinions and made demands for the death penalty in this case, without having any facts beyond what was reported by the media, or consideration for the weight of the evidence that would ultimately be presented,” Worrell said in her letter.
NeJame stands with her.
“Why are they not addressing the issue as to why young people get firearms that are killing people?” NeJame said referring to Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Rick Scott. “Why did this young man have a firearm? And why are we having so many senseless murders taking place?”
NeJame expects the defense team to use the Moses’ young age as an argument in trial.
“There’s issues about an undeveloped mind at 19 years old and recognize the consequences of your action but he is an adult, he clearly killed three people,” NeJame said.
Moses currently faces a long list of charges, including murder and attempted murder. And records show his lawyer has filed a written plea of not guilty on his behalf.
On that day in February, Moses is accused of first killing Augustin, who was his cousin’s friend, after they picked him up to give him a ride.
Then, after Orange County deputies cleared the scene of that murder, they say he allegedly shot and killed Major and Lyons.
Moses was captured and arrested just minutes after those shootings.
The governor recently signed a bill that would make imposing death penalities easier in Florida because it will no longer require a unanimous verdict.
In her letter Friday, Worrell said Florida leads the nation in death row exonerations and said that’s why her office did not want to rush judgement in the Pine Hills shooting case.
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