News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Sep 9, 2021

Brandon man commits mass shooting and kills family of four in Lakeland; injures 11-yr-old girl

During the early morning hours of Sunday, September 5, 2021, 33-year-old Bryan Riley of Brandon, Florida, went into two different homes on the same property off of North Socrum Loop Road in north Lakeland, and shot and killed a 62-year-old woman, a family dog, a 26-year-old woman, her 3-month-old baby boy whom she was holding at the time, and the woman's 40-year-old boyfriend, Justice Gleason*. Riley also shot an 11-year-old girl multiple times. She was critically injured, but survived.

*Gleason's family gave PCSO permission to use his name; the other victims' family members do not want their names released, per Marsy's Law.

Riley chose the house and the victims at random, though he was in the area the previous day visiting an acquaintance. He also engaged in a gunfight with Polk County Sheriff's deputies and a Lakeland Police Department Officer, then surrendered.

Click here to see a news conference, during which Sheriff Grady Judd gives details of the crimes.

Riley has been charged with:

Four counts of 1st degree murder
One count of attempted 1st degree murder
Seven counts of attempted 1st degree murder of a law enforcement officer
Two counts shooting into an occupied dwelling
Two counts armed burglary with battery
One count kidnapping of a minor
One count arson
One count cruelty to an animal

Bryan Riley was arrested and transported the Polk County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.