In a double murder-suicide in the Inwood community of Winter Haven, Florida, three lives were tragically lost.
The suspect, 26-year-old Riley John Groover, reportedly took his own life after fatally shooting his partner. The victims have been named as 21-year-old Camdyn Rider, a transgender man who was in his eighth month of pregnancy, and his unborn child.
Eyewitnesses reported that the incident took place on the evening of July 21 outside the couple’s Central Avenue West home. Groover is believed to have shot Rider multiple times. Despite urgent medical aid, the unborn child could not be saved.
Groover’s mother, who shared the residence, disclosed that while the pair were engaged, their relationship was often marked by tension, mainly due to disagreements about domestic duties.
The mother revealed that Groover had taken her firearm, kept in the house for safety, to shoot his partner.
Groover’s past, as indicated by court records, was filled with violent behavior, including previous instances of targeting individuals. At 17, he confessed to shooting BB pellets through a residence window and engaging in consistent harassment. He had a conviction for battery on a law enforcement officer and was under a juvenile conditional release.
Groover was also involved in disputes with family members, one incident of which involved him allegedly stabbing a relative with a pocket knife. In some instances, charges were dismissed at the victim’s behest or due to the defendant’s ongoing autism treatment at a group home.
Investigations into this tragic occurrence continue.
