What unfolded on Traci Lynn Drive on Jacksonville’s Northside late on June 30 was, according to police, a domestic dispute that turned into a fatal barrage of gunfire. Investigators say 29-year-old Trudale Reed Jr. showed up at the home, and within minutes, his 4-year-old daughter was dead, the children’s mother and a 2-year-old were fighting for their lives, and the attack had been captured on a neighbor’s doorbell camera. Reed allegedly drove off and was tracked down the next day.
Doorbell video shows the attack
Detectives obtained footage from a Ring doorbell that investigators say shows Reed pulling up at the house at about 4:37 p.m., with both children running out to greet him. Minutes later, at about 4:56 p.m., the video reportedly shows him reach into his pants and fire roughly 15 rounds. According to News4JAX, the shots came through a screen door and struck both children and their mother.
JSO: Officers found victims at the scene
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says patrol officers were dispatched just before 5 p.m. on June 30 to the Traci Lynn Drive home. They found a 4-year-old girl in the front yard with fatal wounds, while a 27-year-old woman and a 2-year-old were rushed to local hospitals with life-threatening injuries, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. JSO says detectives quickly identified Reed as the suspect and later located him during a follow-up traffic stop in the Lake Forest area.
Stolen vehicle, pursuit and arrest
Officers say they found Reed shortly after the shooting in a blue 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan that was later determined to be stolen. He allegedly did not stop right away, and a short pursuit ended in what police describe as a high-risk traffic stop. During that stop, Reed broke his arm and was taken to UF Health with non-life-threatening injuries. Body-worn camera video recorded him saying, “One gun, one clip, 15 bullets, every single one of em, I’m drunk, I [expletive] up,” according to News4JAX. Investigators say they recovered a Glock Model 22 .40-caliber pistol from the vehicle and that ballistic testing matched shell casings from the scene to that firearm.
Charges, past runs and family fundraiser
Reed was arrested on July 1 and is being held without bond. Local reporting says he faces murder and attempted murder charges, along with counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, auto theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to reporting republished from the Florida Times-Union. That outlet notes Reed has a prior criminal history, including earlier arrests for domestic violence and a previous robbery conviction. Family members have launched a GoFundMe to help cover recovery and funeral costs, with the online fundraiser showing several thousand dollars raised so far on GoFundMe.
