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Marine sharp-shooter 'who executed couple, their three-month-old baby and the infant's grandmother pounded on victims' neighbor's door moments before the bloodbath sparking fears he wanted to kill him too'

A Florida marine sharp-shooter who allegedly killed a family of four, including a three-month old baby, pounded on his victims' neighbors door before gunshots were heard moments later.

Miguel Rivera, of Lakeland, Florida, heard the pounding on his sliding door early on Sunday before the mass shooting occurred.

Even though no was there by the time Rivera responded to the knock, he believes that he might have been another one of alleged shooter Bryan Riley's victims if he had gotten there sooner.

Miguel Rivera, a resident of Lakeland, Florida, claimed Bryan Riley pounded on his sliding-glass door almost an hour before his neighbors were shot on Sunday morning

Miguel Rivera, a resident of Lakeland, Florida, claimed Bryan Riley pounded on his sliding-glass door almost an hour before his neighbors were shot on Sunday morning

Marine sharp-shooter Bryan Riley, 33, allegedly opened fire on a family of four at 4.30am on Sunday killing 40-year-old Justice Gleason, his 33-year-old girlfriend Theresa Lanham, their three-month-old son Jody, Lanham's 62-year-old mother Catherine Delgado and the family dog

Marine sharp-shooter Bryan Riley, 33, allegedly opened fire on a family of four at 4.30am on Sunday killing 40-year-old Justice Gleason, his 33-year-old girlfriend Theresa Lanham, their three-month-old son Jody, Lanham's 62-year-old mother Catherine Delgado and the family dog

'I pray to God every day I am alive still,' Rivera told the Associated Press on Tuesday, 

'I feel sad for those people. God rest their soul.'

Rivera added: 'They were nice people. It doesn´t make sense. I can´t get it through my head.'

 Riley, 33, is being held without bond on four counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of Justice Gleason, 40, his 33-year-old girlfriend, Theresa Lanham, their three-month old son Jody, Lanham's 62-year-old mother, Catherine Delgado, who owned the property, and the family dog Diogi. 

He also shot Gleason's 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. She was rescued by a deputy after the attack and rushed to Tampa General Hospital where she has had four surgeries in the past two days. 

Justice Gleason and Theresa Lanham were shot dead on Sunday morning in their Lakeland home

Justice Gleason and Theresa Lanham were shot dead on Sunday morning in their Lakeland home

The couple lived with Lanham's mother Catherine Delgado who owned the Florida property they lived on

The couple lived with Lanham's mother Catherine Delgado who owned the Florida property they lived on

The couple's baby son Jody was clutched in the arms of his mother before they were shot

The couple's baby son Jody was clutched in the arms of his mother before they were shot 

The girl is in critical but stable condition and is being treated at a Tampa Hospital as of Tuesday according to Miranda Watson, a friend of Gleason's who had a child with him.

Watson and Gleason have a four-year-old daughter, Olivia, together. Watson said his daughter is 'like her father, just always happy people'.

'Olivia will never know her real dad this just doesn't seem real,' she wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

'I hope he rots in hell,' Watson added.     

A family statement said she has already undergone four surgeries to repair 10 wounds but is alert, reading, writing and generally in good spirits. 

'She was very scared when this happened, but she just prayed during the event and knew it would be OK,' their statement to WTVT-TV said. 

'We appreciate all the well wishes, kind words and prayers.'  

Polk County sheriff's officials say Riley, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, broke into two homes on Delgado's property about 4.30 a.m. Sunday, shooting his victims as they cowered in fear and begged for their lives. The baby was found cradled in his mother's arms.

'The big question that all of us has is, 'Why?'' local prosecutor Brian Haas said after Sunday's slayings. 'We will not know today or maybe ever.'

Detectives say he confessed, telling them he was on high on methamphetamine. 

The detectives however still did not identify the motive behind the shooting even after Riley claimed he knew they did.   

Officers from the Polk County Sheriff Department work outside the family's Lakeland home on Tuesday outside of the home where the family was shot

Officers from the Polk County Sheriff Department work outside the family's Lakeland home on Tuesday outside of the home where the family was shot 

The 11-year-old daughter of Gleason, from a previous relationship, was found to be in critical condition in a Tampa hospital after being shot by Riley

The 11-year-old daughter of Gleason, from a previous relationship, was found to be in critical condition in a Tampa hospital after being shot by Riley 

When asked why he shot the baby, Riley responded: 'Because I'm a sick guy. I want to confess to all of it and be sent to jail.'

At the crime scene Tuesday, sheriff´s deputies carted out bags of items. The single-story, concrete block home has a smaller home in the back near a child´s inflatable pool. A sign on a fence labels the property "The Compound," while another sign warns about a dog on the premises.

Thirty miles (48 kilometers) from the shooting, no one answered the door Tuesday at Riley´s home in the Tampa suburb of Brandon. 

The house was already decorated for Halloween, with a scarecrow and jack-o´-lanterns. Neighbors said Riley was quiet and didn´t socialize, but last week he stopped John Morris´ wife, who has cancer, and said, 'I want to pray for you.'

'It was odd. He didn´t make it loud or anything. He didn´t talk to us much and then all of a sudden he comes up with this,' Morris said. 

The massacre came about nine hours after investigators say Gleason had a bizarre confrontation with Riley. 

Detectives don't believe Riley knew the family or others in the neighborhood, but as Gleason mowed his lawn Saturday evening, Riley pulled up in his truck.

Riley told Gleason that God had sent him to prevent a suicide by someone named Amber. Gleason and one of the other victims told Riley no one by that name lived there and asked him to leave. 

They called 911, but when authorities arrived, Riley was gone. A deputy searched the area but didn´t find Riley.

Video footage from a neighbor recorded four short volleys of about six to ten shots

Video footage from a neighbor recorded four short volleys of about six to ten shots  

Riley and the officers exchanged gunfire after they arrived at the scene

Riley and the officers exchanged gunfire after they arrived at the scene 

Riley returned at about 4.30am and arranged glowsticks to create a path leading to the victims´ house in what Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said may have been an attempt to draw officers 'into an ambush.'

Shooting soon began - neighbor Liberty Ulrich´s security camera recorded at least four short volleys of about six to 10 shots each. 

A deputy in the area heard the gunfire and sounded the alarm, bringing state and local law enforcement officers to the scene.

 When they arrived, they found an apparently unarmed Riley outside, dressed in camouflage, and his truck ablaze.

Riley ran back into the house, where authorities heard more gunfire, 'a woman scream and a baby whimper,' Judd said.

Officers tried to enter, but the front door was barricaded. Judd said that when they went to the back, they saw Riley, who appeared to have donned full body armor.

Riley is being held on four-accounts of first-degree murder with no current motive for the shooting identified

Riley is being held on four-accounts of first-degree murder with no current motive for the shooting identified 

Riley and the officers exchanged heavy gunfire, with dozens 'if not hundreds of rounds' fired before Riley retreated back into the home, according to Judd. 

Everything fell silent, until a helicopter unit noticed that Riley was coming out, the sheriff said. He had been shot once and surrendered.

Officers heard cries for help inside but were unsure whether there were additional shooters. 

One officer rushed in and grabbed the wounded girl, who told authorities there were three dead people inside.

'I will never be able to unsee that mother with that deceased infant in her arms,' Judd said. 'It is a horror of the utmost magnitude.'

Riley´s girlfriend told investigators he was never violent but had become increasingly erratic. 

She said he claimed to be on mission from God, stockpiling supplies for Hurricane Ida victims including $1,000 worth of cigars. 

He worked as a private security guard and had no criminal history, the sheriff said.

Riley served as a sharp-shooter in the United States Marines for four years before being honorably discharged. He left as a Corporal and received a Combat Action Ribbon and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

'This guy was a war hero. He fought for his country,' Judd said. 'He´s a coldblooded killer.'

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