JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A newly obtained arrest report is shedding light on a triple shooting on Jacksonville’s Northside last week, where police say a man killed his 4-year-old daughter and seriously injured her mother and 2-year-old sister.
Trudale Reed Jr., 29, was arrested July 1 and booked into the Duval County jail with no bond. He faces seven total counts, including second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated fleeing and eluding, shooting deadly missiles, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft auto.
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What happened on Traci Lynn Drive
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, officers were dispatched just before 5 p.m. on June 30 to Traci Lynn Drive in reference to multiple people shot.
Upon arriving, officers found a 4-year-old girl, identified as Harmoni Reed, dead in the front yard of the home. Police say she had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body. A 2-year-old girl, identified as Rhythm Reed, was found just inside the front door suffering from a gunshot wound. The children’s mother, Brianna Johnson, 27, was located on the front porch with multiple gunshot wounds. Both the 2-year-old and Johnson were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
Ring camera captures the shooting
Detectives obtained footage from a Ring doorbell camera at the home.
The video showed Reed arriving at the home around 4:37 p.m. Both children ran out to greet him with a hug. A short time later, at approximately 4:56 p.m., Reed is seen reaching into his pants, retrieving a black pistol, and firing 15 rounds at Johnson and toward the front door of the home. Johnson had nothing in her hands at the time of the shooting, according to the arrest report.
The shots fired through the screen door entered the residence and struck both children.
Witnesses describe the scene
Brianna Johnson’s brother told investigators he was working from home when he heard the gunshots.
When he looked from his work area, he saw Harmoni Reed on the floor inside the front door with serious injuries.
A 16-year-old cousin of Johnson who was upstairs at the time told detectives he looked out of his bedroom window after hearing gunshots and saw Trudale Reed walking toward a blue SUV parked in front of the residence. The teen told investigators he then went downstairs and found both children seriously injured.
Suspect’s mother speaks with police
The suspect’s mother was also at the scene and was later interviewed at Baptist Medical Center North, where she had been taken for a medical episode.
According to the report, she told detectives she had driven to the house to pick up her son, his girlfriend, and the children. She stated she saw Reed pull a gun from his pants and shoot Johnson multiple times.
She watched Johnson fall to the ground on the front porch. Reed’s mother stated she exited her vehicle and started walking toward the house. At that time, Trudale started walking toward her with the gun in his hand. As he passed her, he stated, “Sorry,” then got into her vehicle and drove away.
Reed’s mother told investigators she then looked inside the home and found Harmoni Reed critically wounded. She held pressure on the child’s head until rescue arrived and told her Harmoni Reed was dead.
Pursuit and arrest
Officers located Trudale Reed shortly after the shooting in a blue 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan — a vehicle later determined to have been stolen — near the intersection of Tory Place and Valley Forge Road in the Lake Forest neighborhood.
Police say Reed did not stop immediately when officers turned on their emergency lights. After a short pursuit, officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and took Reed into custody. Reed broke his arm during the stop and was transported to UF Health with non-life-threatening injuries.
During the traffic stop, police say Reed made several spontaneous statements captured on body-worn camera: “One gun, one clip, 15 bullets, every single one of em, I’m drunk, I [expletive] up.”
Reed’s statements to investigators
After being released from the hospital the next morning, Reed was transported to JSO’s Police Memorial Building and advised of his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged in writing, according to the report.
Reed told investigators he and Johnson had been in a relationship for seven years, describing it as turbulent with arguments that had sometimes turned physical. He stated he had consumed multiple pints of vodka earlier in the day and claimed he blacked out and did not remember arriving at the home or anything else until he woke up in the hospital the following morning, according to the report.
When shown a still image from the Ring camera, Reed identified himself, Johnson, and both children in the photo and signed the image.
Reed also acknowledged that the Glock Model 22 .40-caliber pistol used in the shooting was his. Investigators recovered the weapon from the stolen vehicle. Ballistic testing at the JSO gun laboratory confirmed the firearm matched shell casings recovered at the scene.
Prior conviction adds felony charge
A search of JSO’s criminal databases revealed Reed had a prior felony conviction on May 12, 2016, for robbery with a firearm — the basis for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge.
Reed is being held without bond on the murder and attempted murder charges.
‘Unimaginable loss’
Family members launched a GoFundMe to support the family during this difficult time.
“As Brianna focuses on healing and caring for herself and Rhythm while navigating this unimaginable loss, any support, prayers, or shares are deeply appreciated. Thank you for keeping our family in your thoughts and for the overwhelming love, compassion, and support you have shown during this incredibly difficult time,” the GoFundMe reads.
If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, click here. So far, it has raised nearly $5,000.