Triple murder suspect accused of killing reporter shouts 'I can't breathe' when arrested

by ALEC SCHEMMEL | The National Desk

Fri, February 24th 2023, 5:50 PM UTC

This image released by the Orange County, Fla., Sheriff's Office shows Keith Melvin Moses. Authorities say a central Florida television journalist and a little girl were fatally shot Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, near the scene of a fatal shooting from earlier in the day near Orlando, Fla. Authorities have detained Moses, 19, who they believe is responsible for both shootings in the Orlando-area neighborhood. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

A 20-year-old woman, a 24-year-old reporter and a nine-year-old girl were all shot and killed Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. by 19-year-old gunman Keith Melvin Moses. (Getty Images)

Orange County Sheriff John Mina addresses the media during a press conference about multiple shootings, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. A central Florida television journalist and a little girl were fatally shot Wednesday afternoon near the scene of a fatal shooting from earlier in the day, authorities said. Mina said that they’ve detained Keith Melvin Moses, 19, who they believe is responsible for both shootings in the Orlando-area neighborhood. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

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This image released by the Orange County, Fla., Sheriff's Office shows Keith Melvin Moses. Authorities say a central Florida television journalist and a little girl were fatally shot Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, near the scene of a fatal shooting from earlier in the day near Orlando, Fla. Authorities have detained Moses, 19, who they believe is responsible for both shootings in the Orlando-area neighborhood. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. (TND) — A triple murder suspect in Orlando, accused of killing a local reporter who was on-scene covering a previous shooting the suspect was already involved in, shouted "I can't breathe" as he was being arrested Wednesday.

The phrase is commonly associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement, and many are upset over the political connotations that could potentially overshadow the gruesome murders.

Keith Moses, 19, shot and killed an acquaintance around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to police.

Around 5:00 p.m. later that same day police responded to another shooting that occurred at the hands of Moses at the same location, as well as another nearby.

Upon arriving on the scene of the homicide from that morning, police found a Spectrum News reporter, Dylan Lyons, 24, and photographer, Jesse Walden, who had both been shot there while covering the breaking story from earlier that morning. Lyons later succumbed to his injuries.

In addition to Lyons and Walden, Moses also went to the home of a 9-year-old girl and her mother and shot them, killing the girl while the mother continues to recover from her injuries.

"It is unclear why the suspect entered that home," police said during a press conference.

They're killing me! They're killing me! I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" Moses shouted as deputies placed him under arrest, video shows.

"I can't breathe" is a "slogan associated with the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States," Wikipedia states.

Left-wing Human Rights organization Amnesty International called the phrase "I can't breathe" the "refrain that reignited a movement."

It originated with the 2014 death of Eric Garner, a New York City man who died after being placed in a chokehold by a police officer.

"I can't breathe" has been shouted by other victims of police-related deaths, including George Floyd who later became a Black Lives Matter icon following his murder by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020.

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