William Reiss, a 68-year-old white male, was tragically killed on January 3, 2018, in Polk City, Florida. The incident occurred when three men from Mobile, Alabama, traveled to his home with the intent to rob him. The suspects, identified as Kenley Campbell (22), Darril Lamar Rankin (22), and Gerjuan Demarcus Jackson (18), were arrested shortly after the crime.
According to the investigation, Jackson had met William Reiss during a hurricane damage estimate in 2017 and had purchased two handguns from him. This connection led Jackson and his accomplices to target Reiss for the robbery.
On the day of the incident, Campbell drove the group to Reiss' residence. Jackson entered the home while the other two men waited in the car. Jackson fired multiple shots at William Reiss, resulting in his death. Reiss' roommate, Kenneth Maier, was also brutally attacked and later succumbed to his injuries. The suspects stole 31 firearms from the home, adding to the severity of their crimes.
The arrests of Campbell, Rankin, and Jackson led to charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, armed burglary with assault/battery, grand theft of a firearm, robbery with a firearm/deadly weapon, conveyance burglary, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. The investigation revealed that Jackson had used his position as a FEMA contractor to gain Reiss' trust, which ultimately facilitated the crime. The case drew significant attention due to the brutal nature of the attack and the involvement of a FEMA contractor.
