Two Journalists Liputan Pembunuhan Saat Liputan Pembunuhan, Satu Orang Die

Illustration. (Unsplash/David von Diemar)

JAKARTA - Two journalists were shot while covering a murder case, before a mother and child who were nearby were also shot, causing one of the journalists to die.

The nine-year-old's mother and child were at home near the shooting site near Orlando, Florida, United States, according to authorities.

A suspect identified as Keith Melvin Moses (19), was arrested shortly after the attacks on the two journalists and mother and child, which are about a block from each other, in Pine Hills, a suburb of Orlando, said Orange County Sheriff John Mina.

Moses was detained as a suspect in both attacks. He was also officially charged with murder hours earlier against a woman in her 20s, a shooting that was being covered by the two journalists when they were shot, Mina said.

The Sheriff described the two journalists as a reporter and a photographer for the Spectrum News 13 cable TV channel in central Florida, which is owned by Charter Communications.

Mina said the suspect was armed with a gun while being detained and had a long criminal record, including the arrests for the alleged violation of firearms, assaults with lethal weapons, robbery, and major theft.

Furthermore, Mina said no motive was yet known from Wednesday's shooting, but she said Moses was believed to be the first victim's acquaintance, who was shot while sitting in the car with the shooter suspect and another.

The Sheriff said he did not know if the two journalists were being targeted because they were journalists, adding that their car had no logos and signatures usually visible on television vehicles. They were inside or near their vehicle when shot.

"As far as we know, he has no relationship with reporters and has no relationship with the 9-year-old's mother or child, and we don't know why he entered their home,"

He added that the surviving mother and journalist were in hospital in critical condition.

"This is another tragic reminder, that journalism is a dangerous profession and criminals and those who are the subject of news can commit violence against journalists who are doing their job," said the National Press Club.

The organization urged all reporters on the ground to take extra precautions, doubling efforts to work safely.

Separately, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre posted a message of condolences on Twitter.

"Our hearts are sorry for the families of the journalists who were killed today and the injured crew members in Orange County, Florida, as well as the entire Spectrum News team," he wrote.