Photo: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
An ex-Marine is facing charges after allegedly killing four people and critically injuring an 11-year-old girl during an early-morning rampage in Florida.
The 11-year-old girl was also shot multiple times. She was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive, per authorities.
Judd revealed that Riley’s alleged motive was that he believed he was saving a sex trafficking victim, adding that the suspect showed no remorse for his actions.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, Sep. 4 when Riley allegedly approached Gleason outside of the home as he was mowing his front yard, Judd told reporters during the press conference. Judd said that’s when Riley allegedly told Gleason that God sent him to speak with a girl he called Amber — the alleged sex-trafficking victim he wanted to save.
Judd continued, sharing that during the alleged conversation, Gleason informed Riley that no one with that name was living at their address. He then demanded that Riley leave the property. However, Riley returned the next day and that’s when he allegedly shot Gleason and the three other family members dead.
At one point, Judd said Riley allegedly escorted the 11-year-old girl into the living room, where he questioned her about Amber and her whereabouts. The girl insisted that she didn’t know Amber, so Riley allegedly shot her in the stomach after a “three, two, one” countdown, Judd said.
“This 11-year-old was very brave and very smart, and she out-thought him,” the sheriff told reporters. “She said, ‘I played dead and I prayed.’ "
Before being taken into custody, Riley allegedly exchanged gunfire with responding officers. He is currently being held at the Polk Country jail on no bond.
“There aren’t words to describe the rage that we feel about what he did to this totally innocent family who was simply sleeping in their home,” Judd told reporters during the news briefing, adding, “It could have been anybody’s neighborhood who was out with their children that afternoon.”
Riley now faces a slew of charges, including four counts of first-degree murder; one count of attempted first-degree murder; seven counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer; two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling; two counts of armed burglary with battery; one count kidnapping of a minor; one count arson; and one count cruelty to an animal.
Judd said Riley has no prior criminal history and served for seven years between Iraq and Afghanistan.
According toABC Action News,Riley was a self-described “survivalist.” His girlfriend told investigators that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder but said she had no knowledge of him being violent.
The Polk County Sheriff’s department iscollecting donationsto help the family pay for the four funerals and the 11-year-old’s hospital bills on their website.
source: people.com
