On February 16, 2021, 70-year-old Thomas Melvin Gill Jr. was found dead in his Middleburg, Florida, home in the 5300 block of Razorback Court. Deputies responding to a 911 call from Gill’s wife discovered him lying on the floor next to a bed and covered in blood; he was declared dead at the scene.

Nearby, Gill’s 63-year-old brother, John Ward Gill, was found semi-conscious with self-inflicted head and facial injuries. Investigators determined John Gill had shot his brother; John Gill was treated at Orange Park Medical Center for non-life-threatening wounds, then arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The incident report redacted John Gill’s statement and the motive remains unclear, though it was described as appearing to involve domestic violence. John Gill had formerly served as a pastor and, according to his wife, had been living with mental illness.

Family members said the shooting has left them traumatized and dealing with scrutiny on social media. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating the circumstances of the fatal shooting. If anyone knew the victim or has information about what led to this incident, please come forward.