CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater Police Department has arrested a Lakeland man in connection with an overnight shooting at the police substation on Clearwater Beach. Gamaliel Reyes, 25, of Lakeland, faces multiple charges after allegedly opening fire on the unoccupied substation building and a police vehicle.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred at 700 Bayway Boulevard.
Chief Eric Gandy detailed the arrest and charges during a news conference on Monday afternoon.
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Reyes has been charged with possession of a firearm during the committing of a felony, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and shooting into an unoccupied vehicle. Two additional rounds reportedly struck the substation building.
According to a police report, Reyes shot at and damaged a marked Clearwater police vehicle that was unoccupied at the time.
“Regardless of motive, thankfully, we didn’t have any officers sitting in that vehicle at that moment,” Chief Gandy stated at the news conference. He added, “Quite frequently they’ll pull into the substation parking lot and sit and work on their computer before they go upstairs, and fortunately that officer had already gone upstairs. So in this instance, no one was injured and we’re thankful for that, but the outcome certainly could’ve been much different.”
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Reyes reportedly turned himself in and was taken into custody on South Gulfview Boulevard, according to the arrest report. However, police say he did not provide any further information regarding his motive for the shooting.
The Clearwater Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident and the motive behind the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call 727-562-4242.
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