Police have described the shooting as a “gunfight”.
Four people, including a mother and baby, have been killed in a shooting in Florida.
According to police, 33-year-old Bryan Riley was in a “gunfight” with police officers in which multiple rounds of bullets were exchanged outside his home in Lakeland.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that numerous people were shot and four people were killed. The victims were a 33-year-old mother and her three-month-old baby boy, the boy’s grandmother and a 40-year-old man who has been named as Justin Gleason.
An 11-year-old girl was also shot.
According to Sheriff Judd, Mr Gleason had been mowing his lawn when Riley, a former marine, told him to stop and that Gleason’s daughter was going to “commit suicide”.
A second person attempted to intervene and threatened to call the police.
When the police later arrived at the scene, they weren’t able to find Riley.
More photos from the scene of the quadruple homicide in #Lakeland https://t.co/D6DOaLLc7u pic.twitter.com/KNuIIqNhXh
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) September 5, 2021
Several hours later, Riley returned home and attempted to “ambush” police by leading a path of glowsticks into his home. A nearby officer heard popping noises and law enforcement arrived at the scene.
Riley’s truck had been set on fire and he was standing outside his home, unarmed. He retreated inside his home, and police heard gunfire, as well as the sounds of a distressed woman and infant.
The lieutenant attempted to enter, but the house had been barricaded.
A ‘gunfight’ ensued and Riley emerged with his hands up.
A sergeant tended to an 11-year-old girl who had been shot seven times. When the scene was clear, officers entered the property and found the mother and baby and Mr Gleason. All had been shot to death.
The baby’s 62-year-old grandmother had also been killed.
Sheriff Judd told the press that Riley targeted this family at random.
The suspect was taken to hospital where he attempted to grab an officer’s gun before he was tied down and medicated.
It’s expected that Riley will be transferred to jail soon and will face charges.
