After a deadly mass shooting in downtown Orlando Friday morning that left two killed and seven injured, police charged 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar with two counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted first-degree murder. Police said 50,000-100,000 people were in the area for a Halloween celebration.WESH 2's Nancy Alvarez sat down with Edgar's brother, Jeffrey, who was adamant that the outcome would have been different if he had been by his brother's side. Just before the violence erupted in downtown Orlando, Jeffrey Edgar was also there with a group of 30 members of the Nations Church Young Adult Ministry, with a different mission. "Just telling people about Christ, praying for people, seeing people get touched by God for the first time," Jeffrey said.The group was in the same area of the shooting and left about 30 minutes before it started. Jeffrey said he was shocked to find out his half-brother, Jaylen Edgar, is allegedly the teen seen on video opening fire. "Did you know he was downtown?" WESH 2 News anchor Nancy Alvarez asked."I didn't, no, no, no, not at all," Jeffrey replied. Jeffrey Edgar said he last spoke to Jaylen on the phone two days ago, urging him to get back on track and pursue his General Educational Development certificate."He wanted to get back in school," Jeffrey said. "I was telling him one day, man, like, bro, like you different, you different. And that's a good thing. You know, like, bro, you're called to be a leader to lead. You know, you don't have to follow."Jeffrey said he does not know if Jaylen had specific targets during the shooting but believes his presence could have prevented the tragedy.He just wishes he had spotted Jaylen in the crowd before he allegedly pulled out a gun. "You're convinced that if he would have seen you, things would be different?" WESH 2 News anchor Nancy Alvarez asked."For sure, for sure, wholeheartedly. I wish I would have had a chance to talk to him. He would have come with me. It's what it would have been," Jeffrey replied.But they didn't run into each other — and now lives are changed forever. Jeffrey said he knows this is a really tough time for people. "My brother, my little sister, his mother, you know, other families that was that was impacted, you know, their mothers, their brothers, their sisters, their cousins..." Jeffrey said. Jeffrey said he hopes people lean on faith and said he believes only Christ can get them through this time. Police said Jaylen Edgar has a previous arrest record. He was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.

After a deadly mass shooting in downtown Orlando Friday morning that left two killed and seven injured, police charged 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar with two counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Police said 50,000-100,000 people were in the area for a Halloween celebration.

Advertisement

WESH 2's Nancy Alvarez sat down with Edgar's brother, Jeffrey, who was adamant that the outcome would have been different if he had been by his brother's side.

Just before the violence erupted in downtown Orlando, Jeffrey Edgar was also there with a group of 30 members of the Nations Church Young Adult Ministry, with a different mission.

"Just telling people about Christ, praying for people, seeing people get touched by God for the first time," Jeffrey said.

The group was in the same area of the shooting and left about 30 minutes before it started. Jeffrey said he was shocked to find out his half-brother, Jaylen Edgar, is allegedly the teen seen on video opening fire.

"Did you know he was downtown?" WESH 2 News anchor Nancy Alvarez asked.

"I didn't, no, no, no, not at all," Jeffrey replied.

Jeffrey Edgar said he last spoke to Jaylen on the phone two days ago, urging him to get back on track and pursue his General Educational Development certificate.

"He wanted to get back in school," Jeffrey said. "I was telling him one day, man, like, bro, like you different, you different. And that's a good thing. You know, like, bro, you're called to be a leader to lead. You know, you don't have to follow."

Jeffrey said he does not know if Jaylen had specific targets during the shooting but believes his presence could have prevented the tragedy.

He just wishes he had spotted Jaylen in the crowd before he allegedly pulled out a gun.

"You're convinced that if he would have seen you, things would be different?" WESH 2 News anchor Nancy Alvarez asked.

"For sure, for sure, wholeheartedly. I wish I would have had a chance to talk to him. He would have come with me. It's what it would have been," Jeffrey replied.

But they didn't run into each other — and now lives are changed forever.

Jeffrey said he knows this is a really tough time for people.

"My brother, my little sister, his mother, you know, other families that was that was impacted, you know, their mothers, their brothers, their sisters, their cousins..." Jeffrey said.

Jeffrey said he hopes people lean on faith and said he believes only Christ can get them through this time.

Police said Jaylen Edgar has a previous arrest record. He was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.