‘This is devastating’: Family pleads for information after U.S. Army veteran killed in Ocoee

While fighting back tears, family members of U.S. Army veteran Gregory C. Reed, 60, of Apopka, along with members of the Ocoee Police Department, pleaded for anyone with information about Reed’s homicide to come forward.

Reed’s oldest daughter, Deidre Anderson, and cousin, Tyrone Scott, spoke at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Ocoee Police Department.

“We felt it was important for the public to get to know who Mr. Reed was in our community, who he was with his service in the military (especially on Veterans Day) and how impactful this is for this family,” Ocoee Investigations Lt. Mireya Iannuzzi said. “We need the public’s help to bring justice for this veteran.”

Gregory C. Reed

 

Anderson said her family had just celebrated Reed’s mother’s birthday Sunday, Nov. 5.

“He was not doing anything to anybody,” Anderson said. “This is devastating, because we just celebrated a birthday,” Anderson said. “He was a family man. He loved his family. He loved his kids. He sacrificed a lot for the people in his family. 

“If anybody has any information — anything helps — please, please call the tip line,” Anderson said.

According to Ocoee police reports, at about 8:20 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9, officers responded to a shooting on the northeast corner of Clarke and Silver Star roads. Upon arrival, they discovered Reed with multiple gunshot wounds. Fire Rescue EMTs rendered aid on the scene. Reed was transported to Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Ocoee detectives have begun piecing together the events of that night using video footage.

“Mr. Reed was seen driving his vehicle through the BP gas station (1650 E. Silver Star Road) just prior to being shot,” detective Jaswantie Devine said. “You will see (Reed’s) vehicle was approached by another vehicle, which we believe is a silver or white Mercedes SUV, a GLA or GLC model between 2001 to 2023.”

Ocoee detectives believe Reed was shot near pump one of the BP gas station.

Devine said the suspect vehicle is seen leaving the BP, and Reed drove his vehicle to the Publix at 1720 E. Silver Star Road, behind the BP gas station. Reed crashed his vehicle into another vehicle, where he was discovered by the EMTs.

Ocoee investigators currently are combing through other video footage from the vicinity.

“This is a very active and ongoing investigation,” Iannuzzi said. “Leads are developing by the hour. We have our detectives … working this case around the clock.

“We do have some witnesses who have come forward (who) either saw something or heard something that pointed us in the direction of this vehicle,” Iannuzzi said. 

Detectives said there were at least two people in the suspect vehicle. Iannuzzi said there is no evidence that this was an attempted robbery. Detectives do not believe the suspects and Reed knew one another.

“Right now, it would seem like there is no explanation, and it may have been … just a random act,” she said. “We don’t have anything that would lead us to believe that it was a robbery or that it was intentional or that they were seeking him out.”

However, Iannuzzi said video footage suggests there may have been a verbal exchange between Reed and the suspects before he was shot.

“It could have been something as simple as someone cut someone off,” she said. “There was a reason there was a very brief exchange prior to the witnesses hearing the gunshots.”

At this time, no arrest has been made.

“We need the public’s help,” Iannuzzi said. “We know that someone out there has seen something, has heard something, and that is going to have that missing piece of information that we need to resolve this case. We desperately want to bring justice to this family. This is just a violent encounter and seemingly have no explanation, no reason why.”

Scott said Reed was active in the community and coached youth football in Apopka.  

“You’ll never find a better guy than Greg Reed,” Scott said. “He was an awesome man. … He’s like a brother. … For someone to hurt this man like they did, it is wrong. He didn’t deserve that. He deserved to be here today. And I am mad that he had to be taken like that, (because of) someone being selfish. To hurt an innocent man — it is wrong. … I even talked to God to ask him, ‘Could He please bring him back?’ 

“I’m just hurt so much on the inside that we had to lose him so soon,” he said. “I know he is in heaven right now; that’s my belief.”

Anyone with information about this homicide should call detective Michelle Grogan, (407) 905-3160 or Crimeline, 800-423-8477 to remain anonymous.