Friday started the first of several phases of reopening Orange Avenue to traffic during the weekend nightlife hours, just two weeks after two people were killed in a mass shooting on Halloween night.
Jaylen Edgar, 17, is accused of opening fire among the costumed revelers downtown around 1 a.m. on Nov. 1, killing two people. Seven people were injured by gunshots, and another person was hurt when they were trampled by the fleeing crowd.
City officials said earlier this month that the street-party atmosphere downtown has led to consistent public safety issues and the city is pursuing every safety measure to protect the community. The city said the move would reduce large crowds from gathering in the middle of the street.
“More cops and more lighting- I don’t have a problem with that, like having cars on the street and stuff that’s going to kill the vibe,” said Sam Benjamin, Orlando Resident.
This will be done gradually, using barricades to keep pedestrians closer to the sidewalks and opening one lane of traffic on Orange Avenue, forcing people to use the sidewalks, which the city said hasn’t been done in 25 years.