A University of Central Florida freshman has been identified as one of two revelers killed in a mass shooting at a Halloween party in Orlando.
According to the GoFundMe, Timothy Schmidt Jr. was looking to “follow in his father’s footsteps as a successful businessman” before he was “tragically and innocently murdered.”
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” who he raised mostly as a single parent since the boy was 9 years old.
“The month before I took him to UCF for the summer session, he was the best man at my wedding and gave the best speech ever,” his father 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 has already received more than 1,000 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 lift his friends up.”
On Friday, Schmidt, known to his family as Tim, was outside The Block, a seven-venue entertainment district in downtown Orlando, when Jaylen Dwayne Edgar allegedly opened fire on a party crowd of thousands.
“It was a freaking lottery ticket,” Timothy Schmidt Sr. said of his son’s accidental killing. “He was just having fun with his friends.”
“He was an extraordinary person, a loving son, a caring friend, a talented football player, an amazing teammate, a kind soul, a hard-working student and a man with an extremely warm heart and witty sense of humor,” said student Jacob Egozi, who set up the fundraiser on behalf of Alpha Epsilon Pi Nu Delta Chapter of Central Florida.
UCF Student Government previously reported that a student was among the two killed, without identifying Schmidt.
“An unprovoked act of violence injured several members of our UCF family and took the lives of two people, including a UCF student and a member of our Orlando community,” the school said in a statement. said on Facebook.
Schmidt and another 25-year-old man were pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center after the shooting.
Eight others, ages 19 to 39, were rushed to the hospital after the incident with varying degrees of injuries, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Two victims are in serious condition.
A 26-year-old woman was hospitalized late Friday morning after being trampled by a frightened crowd, police said.
Edgar, 17, is accused of pulling out a gun and firing into a crowd at the intersection of Orange Ave and Central Blvd. around 1:07 a.m., authorities said.
He ran, then re-emerged a block away amid a frenzied crowd fight at Orange Avenue and Washington Street, where police said he opened fire again.
Police officers witnessed Edgar fire his weapon and then tackle the gunman before he could flee again, authorities said.
Dash cam footage shows officers yelling at the suspect before taking him into custody.
“Get on the ground!” the officer yelled and the suspect replied, “It’s not me,” before being taken into custody.
“I saw him shoot,” the officer said in the video.
Edgar was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and six counts of attempted murder.
On Friday, the teenager, dressed in white overalls, was taken from the police station to a waiting police car.
“Whatever his mindset was, he was going to shoot no matter what,” Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said Friday. “He was walking next to several officers, we were watching where he went. He knew what he was going to do, what he thought his mind was going to do.”
Edgar could be tried as an adult based on “several aggravating factors,” Orange-Osceola County State’s Attorney Andrew Bain said.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a week-long state of emergency in the downtown entertainment district, ordering businesses to stop selling alcohol at midnight.
“We recognize the impact this will have on businesses and residents in the area, but the safety of everyone who lives, works and visits our downtown is our top priority,” Orlando City Hall said in a statement.