Lakeland mass shooting suspect ordered to be held without bail

LAKELAND, Fla. (TCD) -- A 33-year-old former Marine accused of killing four people — including an infant — and injuring a young girl over the weekend was ordered to be held without bail.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Bryan Riley was charged with two counts of shooting into building, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of second-degree arson, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, four counts of first-degree murder, and two counts of armed burglary with assault/battery.

According to an affidavit, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an active shooter call at a residence Sunday at approximately 4:45 p.m. When they arrived, Riley reportedly went back inside the home and deputies then heard "gunshot emanating from within the residence," as well as a “female voice scream."

Deputies and Riley reportedly exchanged gunfire until Riley surrendered. According to the arrest affidavit, Riley allegedly "attempted to grab and take the duty gun" of a Lakeland Police officer while en route to the hospital.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, the victims were 40-year-old Justice Gleason, 33-year-old Theresa Lanham, their 3-month-old son, a 62-year-old woman, and a dog. The 62-year-old was reportedly the child’s grandmother. Riley allegedly shot an 11-year-old girl as well, but she was reportedly in stable condition as of Tuesday, WFLA-TV reports.

Riley's fiancée Elizabeth Galindo spoke with investigators and, according to the affidavit, told them Riley had been "acting very strangely over the last seven days." The day before the shooting, Riley allegedly told Galindo he thought a girl named Amber was going to commit suicide, and God told him "to intervene and prevent the suicide."

The Lakeland Ledger reports Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd explained in a press conference that Riley went to the victims' home on Saturday and allegedly said, "God sent me here to speak with one of your daughters, Amber." Gleason reportedly told Riley to leave, but he would not. A woman reportedly came out of the house and allegedly told Riley she would call the cops, to which he allegedly replied, "You don’t need to call the cops because I’m the cops for God."

A Polk County deputy showed up at the Gleasons' home after they called 911, but Riley was reportedly gone by then.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Judd said during his press conference, "We get thousands of reports of suspicious people, suspicious vehicles. To suggest that we’ve got time to stop and do an investigation of every suspicious vehicle is not possible. He made zero threats. He was just a guy that was saying some really goofy stuff."

The arrest affidavit says Riley admitted to killing the four people and the dog. He reportedly said "voices and 'God' told him to do it." Riley said he did not know the victims. When asked about why he shot the 3-month-old, he reportedly responded, "Because I’m a sick guy."

He said, "I want to confess to all of it and be sent to jail."

The Polk County Sheriff posted photos of the residence on social media showing windows with bullet holes, as well as a door with glass smashed everywhere.

WFLA reports Riley was a sharpshooter and Marine who did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and went on to work in private security.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Judd said Riley was "totally outfitted in body armor and looked as though he was ready to engage us in an active shooter situation." He reportedly told deputies, "You know why I did this," and admitted, "They begged for their lives, but I shot them anyway."

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