Ellis Reed, a 28-year-old resident of Fullerton, California, tragically lost his life on May 8, 2019. The incident occurred late at night, around 11:40 p.m., when multiple reports of gunshots and the sound of a car speeding away were made in a Fullerton neighborhood. Responding officers found Reed with several gunshot wounds in an alley on Topaz Lane. It is believed that he was shot on Garnet Lane, about a block away, and managed to run to the alley where he was discovered.
Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics who administered first aid, Reed succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Reed's mother, Giesela Tanner, identified him and expressed her profound grief, describing him as her only child and best friend. She mentioned that Reed had been involved in an online feud, which she suspected might have led to the fatal shooting. Tanner had been reviewing her son's social media posts, hoping to find clues about the conflict. The police interviewed witnesses and searched for security footage in the area to gather more information about the shooter. Although the neighborhood had a history of gang activity, it was unclear if Reed's death was gang-related.
The investigation into Reed's death involved detectives from the Fullerton Police Department, who believed that Reed was shot in the 3100 block of Garnet Lane before collapsing in the nearby alley. Despite the efforts to gather information, a detailed description of the shooter was not immediately available. Reed's mother last saw him alive when he was walking his girlfriend to her car earlier that evening. An hour later, a friend delivered the devastating news to her.
In the aftermath of the shooting, a memorial with flowers, candles, and other items was set up near the site where Reed's body was found. Tanner's plea for information highlighted the community's reluctance to come forward, possibly due to fear of retaliation or a desire to remain anonymous. The investigation continued as authorities sought to piece together the events leading up to Reed's death and identify the person responsible for the shooting.
