Man Shoots Fire Fighter in Stomach While Selling Gun

Finance

A Palm Beach Gardens man has been arrested after he promised a Palm Beach County fire captain the “deal of his lifetime” but instead fatally shot his friend while showing him a gun, police said.

J.B. Rind was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of James Gilliard, Palm Beach Gardens Police Maj. Paul Rogers said Wednesday. Rind, 63, faces charges of manslaughter and improper exhibition of a firearm. The shooting happened Monday night at Rind’s home on Artesa Way South.

Gilliard, 48, was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he was pronounced dead. He had worked for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for 21 years.

According to the report, Rind said he was presenting the gun to Gilliard to show him that the gun was empty when he accidentally shot Gilliard in the stomach from less than 4 feet away.

Police said Rind and Gilliard had only ordered a Diet Coke and one glass of Merlot at dinner that evening. Rind admitted to drinking a glass of wine but said he hadn’t had any other alcoholic beverages.


The Palm Beach Post reports police found a Taurus 87 .38-caliber revolver, loaded with three rounds, one live and one fired. It was atop a desk in a second-floor living room, where Rind said he’d laid it after the shooting.

5 thoughts on “Man Shoots Fire Fighter in Stomach While Selling Gun

  1. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE NOW???
    THEY HAVE TO HAVE WHATEVER NOW!!!
    THEY HAVE BECOME CRAZY, MAYBE THEY ARE ON POT OR SOME OTHER DRUG. THEY DONOT RESPECT OTHERS. ITS AWFUL.

  2. Obviously a terrible situation but why make such a big deal about the fact the deceased was a firefighter? Would it be any less a tragedy if he had been a bricklayer or attorney or retired? What about if the roles were reversed? Can’t we just report things and not try to sensationalize them.

Comments are closed.

Related Posts