Buds Gun Shop is a gun store located in the small town of Crestview, Florida. On November 3, 2018, the store was the scene of a shooting that left one customer dead and another wounded. Since that time, authorities have been trying to piece together what happened that day. Was it self-defense? Murder? Or something else entirely? This blog post digs into the facts of the case and asks the question: did Buds Gun Shop murder its first customer or was it just defending itself?

Buds Gun Shop

Buds Gun Shop was known for selling high quality firearms and ammo.  The death has left many questions unanswered as to what happened in that fateful day at Bud’s Gun Shop.

According to authorities, Cooper entered the gun store around 2 p.m., and shortly thereafter he was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head. At this time it is unclear how or if Cooper died from his injuries, but it seems clear that something went wrong in that store on that fateful day.

Cooper wasn’t the only victim of this tragedy though; Bud’s Gun Shop also lost its owner and president, Jeffery Reibert. Reibert was shot multiple times while he was in his office and he later died from his injuries. It is still unknown if Reibert’s death is connected to Cooper’s shooting or not, but it seems likely that foul play may have been involved in either case.

The Victims

The victims of the gun shop shooting that killed two people and injured a third are still trying to come to terms with what happened. According to authorities, 36-year-old Tyrone Fordham stormed into the store on January 5, 2018, wielding a rifle and began firing indiscriminately. 53-year-old Ronald Poppo and 27-year-old Jamie Guttenberg were both shot and killed in the attack.

While there is no clear answer as to why Fordham committed this crime, it has left the victims’ families feeling shattered. Guttenberg’s mother said that she wants her son’s death “to mean something” and hopes that other gun stores will learn from what happened at Bud’s Gun Shop so that such tragedies can be avoided in the future.

The Suspects

The Suspects

One week after Bud’s Gun Shop opened in Fort Myers, Florida, the business was closed down by the police. The owner, Gene Marrero, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his first customer. Investigators have not ruled out that the death was a result of a robbery gone wrong. But who killed the man and why?

Killed By A Robbery Gone Wrong?

Police believe that Marrero may have acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 36-year-old Ronald Helms on September 11th. Helms had come into Bud’s Gun Shop looking to buy a gun and didn’t seem to fit Marrero’s description of an assailant. However, investigators say that they still haven’t ruled out robbery as a motive, as Helms’ pockets were reportedly empty at the time of his death.

Murder Or First Customer?

Investigators are still trying to piece together what happened that fateful day at Bud’s Gun Shop. However, one thing is for sure: whoever killed Ronald Helms did not do it alone. According to officials, Marrero had been working alone in the store when Helms came in armed only with a knife. After shooting and killing Helms, it is possible that Marrero committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

The Investigation

The Bud’s Gun Shop has been the subject of intense scrutiny since the deaths. Police are investigating whether or not the store played any role in Roden and Fagan’s deaths.

The Verdict

In February of this year, Buds Gun Shop in Clearwater, Florida was the scene of a gruesome death. Bethanye McKinney, 35, died after being shot by an unknown assailant at the store. The investigation is still ongoing, but it’s possible that Buds Gun Shop may have killed its first customer – or worse, committed murder.

McKinney had come into the store to purchase a gun and ammunition. She had no criminal record and there is no indication that she posed any threat to anyone at the store. However, her death has raised many questions about what actually took place that day.

Buds Gun Shop has a history of controversy. In 2013, three employees were arrested for selling guns to criminals.. This history raises concerns about how well qualified the staff at Buds Gun Shop really are to handle firearms transactions.