Deputies: Husband wounds wife, kills himself in Vilano Beach shooting

John Reid, Tracy Cunningham married months ago, deputies say

VILANO BEACH, Fla. – A man died and a woman was critically injured in a double shooting Thursday night at a home in Vilano Beach, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said John Leo Reid Jr., 71, shot his wife, 61-year-old Tracy Cunningham, before turning the gun on himself about 5:15 p.m. outside the front of their home on Jerez Court.

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Sheriff's Office spokesman Chuck Mulligan told News4Jax that someone was on the property at the time of the shooting and went to a neighbor's home to call 911. 

Operator: "Sir, OK. Is he breathing?"
Caller: "We don't know. He shot himself in the face, OK, in the head."

It's unclear how many times Cunningham was shot, but she was rushed to a hospital, deputies said.

As of Friday, Cunningham was in critical condition and had already undergone one surgery, Sheriff's Office spokesman Chuck Mulligan said. 

"That individual was still conscious and alert, talking with us, however, there were some deteriorating conditions onset with that traumatic event, so she was immediately loaded up by fire and rescue personnel, loaded into an air ambulance and taken to the Orange Park Medical Center, where she was treated, had surgery last night," Mulligan said.

Mulligan said Reid and Cunningham were married only months ago.

"This appeared to be a domestic-styled situation contained in the home," Mulligan said. "Obviously this was an argument. Exactly what was being said, we don't know."

As Cunningham remained hospitalized Friday, community members told News4Jax that they're shocked.  

"This is very nice people. Everybody knows everybody around here," said Terry Scarborough, who has lived in Vilano Beach for nearly a decade. 

Scarborough said he rides his bike through the neighborhood every day and used to see Reid "feeding the cats all the time."

According to Mulligan, Cunningham has family members, but detectives have not found any of Reid's immediate family members.


About the Authors:

Zachery “Zach” Lashway anchors KPRC 2+ Now. He began at KPRC 2 as a reporter in October 2021.

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.