Ex-Marine in custody in shooting of Florida family
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — A former Marine sharpshooter accused of invading the home of apparent strangers in Florida and fatally shooting a woman, her three-month-old baby and two others was ordered held without bail during his first court appearance Monday.
Authorities did not give a motive for the grisly attack, but they said Bryan Riley might have a mental illness and that he told investigators he was high on methamphetamines at the time. His girlfriend said he had been saying for weeks that he could communicate directly with God.
At this court appearance Monday, Riley, 33, said that he intended to hire a lawyer, but one will be appointed for him in the meantime.
Riley surrendered on Sunday morning after a furious gunbattle with authorities who brought in at least one armoured vehicle during their standoff. After it was over, an officer rushed into the home and rescued an 11-yearold girl, who was still conscious despite being shot seven times. She was in critical condition on Monday, the sheriff’s office said.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Riley told interrogators that the victims “begged for their lives, and I killed them anyway.”
Judd said Riley told detectives, “You know why I did this.” But Brian Haas, the local prosecutor, said investigators don’t.
“The big question that all of us has is, ‘Why?’” Haas said. “We will not know today or maybe ever.”
On Saturday evening, hours before the attack began, Riley stopped by the victims’ home in Lakeland, about 50 kilometres from Tampa, where he lives, Judd said. Authorities have found no connection between Riley and the victims.
At the time, Justice Gleason, 40, was outside mowing his lawn, and Riley told him that God had sent him there. Gleason and another person Judd described as one of the victims told Riley to leave. They called the police, but when authorities arrived, Riley was gone.
Riley returned around 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Shooting began shortly thereafter.