Arrest made in fatal shooting of fire captain
A 63-year-old Palm Beach Gardens man has been charged in the deadly shooting of Capt. James M. Gilliard, a 21-year-veteran of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
Jay Brett Rind was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail at about 10 p.m. Wednesday on charges of manslaughter and improper exhibition of a firearm, records show.
Rind to ld police that he and Gilliard had known each other for about four years, and they had dinner together at a Palm Beach Gardens restaurant on the night of the shooting.
Managers at the Bonefish Grill, located at 4635 PGA Blvd., confirmed to investigators that Rind and Gilliard had a pleasant dinner and left at around 8 p.m. Monday.
About 15 minutes later, Gilliard would be fatally wounded by a shot to the abdomen inside Rind’s homein the 4500 block of ArtesaWay South, located southwest of DonaldRoss Road and North Military Trail.
Rind told police that he was planning to move toMexico and wanted to give two of his handguns to Gilliard.
Rind said hewas showing Gilliard a .38 caliber Taurus revolver when it discharged. Rind called 911 and told the operator he shot his friend in the stomach while showing him a gun. The menwere standing about four feet apart when the gun went off, according to the arrest report.
Gilliard, 48, was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators seized three guns at Rind’s home, including the weapon that killed Gilliard. That revolver had two bullets in the chamber and one shell was recovered from the shot that was fired, the report stated.’Detectives also questioned Gilliard’s wife who confirmed her husband had made dinner arrangements that night to meet with someone to buy firearms. Michelle Gilliard did not know Rind, but she said her husband told her hewas getting a “deal of a lifetime” on the guns, according to investigators.
“Our hearts are broken,” Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said in a statement issued shortly after Gilliard’s death. “Our fire rescue family isworking together to support his family at this difficult time.”
Gilliard is survived by his wife, son Barton, and daughter Olivia. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Rind’s bond was set at $20,000Thursday morning, records show.