On Wednesday, Florida journalist Luana Munoz was in tears on-air while delivering the news of "every reporter's absolutely worst nightmare" after fellow TV news reporter Dylan Lyons was gunned down covering another shooting from earlier that day.
Munoz broke down outside Orlando Regional Medical Center where it was reported Lyons died.
She shared:
"It is nice to see all the media, we come together in solidarity in this moment."
"This is every reporter's absolutely worst nightmare. We go home at night, afraid, that something like this will occur."
"And that is what happened here."
Munoz revealed Lyons' family was also at the hospital.
She had just embraced his fiancé.
She then sent the broadcast back to the studio so she could collect herself.
\u201cDevastating\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
Lyons—a Spectrum News 13 reporter—and fellow reporter Jesse Walden were both shot while covering the earlier shooting in Pine Hills where Nathacha Augustin was killed.
A nine-year-old girl and her mother were also shot in a nearby home when the reporters were attacked.
Nine-year-old T'yonna Major and Lyons did not survive while Walden and T'yonna's mother were wounded.
The shooter was detained shortly after. He was armed with a handgun.
Viewers of Munoz's live report commended her for delivering such devastating news.
\u201c@atrupar Can we just take a minute to acknowledge that reporter. The grace, the class, the dignity and the respect with which she delivers what has got to be some of the most difficult news.\n\nHaving the decency and forethought to not add to the sensationalism and keep the camera on her.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar She did a wonderful job with this difficult live shot.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar I wish I could give u a hug \ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude14\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar @LeeSaunders72 Absolutely heartbreaking \ud83d\udc94. Losing your life just for doing your job & hurting nobody \ud83e\udd7a. My heart goes out to his family and also to this incredible reporter - even with what\u2019s just happened to a colleague she still stands there. Such incredible strength.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar Just heartbreaking. She did a phenomenal job and should not apologize for showing emotion \ud83d\udc94\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
Those connected to the industry also shared their fear for reporters.
\u201c@atrupar As a former tv news videographer, I can\u2019t tell you how many times I feared for my life covering a story. The danger for local level journalists is very real.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar This is heartbreaking! As a former reporter this is every journalist\u2019s worst nightmare. Praying for his family and friends and all my former media colleagues. This is crazy!\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar I feel this. My cousin is an anchor in Louisville, and was reporting on a shooting at an annual Thanksgiving community football game that her sister was at. The woman next to her was killed. Until these lawmakers\u2019 families are widely affected things will keep getting worse \ud83d\ude14\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
And many sent their condolences to the victims' loved ones.
\u201c@atrupar My deepest condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar @KuKhahil Rip to all those who lost their lives, prayers, god bless, and condolences to all their families, loved ones, and friends \ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar Please accept my deepest condolences. I'm so sorry for your tragic loss. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\ude22\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
\u201c@atrupar I hope the families finds peace and strength. This is such a sad occurrence.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1677116633
Charter Communications—the parent company of Spectrum News—shared a statement on Twitter.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and the other lives senselessly taken today. Our thoughts are with our employee's family, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time."
"We remain hopeful that our other colleague who was injured makes a full recovery."
The statement concluded:
"This is a terrible tragedy for the Orlando community."
\u201cFollowing the shooting death of a member of our Spectrum News 13 crew, our parent company, Charter Communications, has released a statement.\u201d— Spectrum News 13 (@Spectrum News 13) 1677117690
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