Bruce Spry, 42, was shot and killed on June 20, 2021, in Lake Wales, Florida. A native of Lake Wales who had been living in Bradenton with his wife Pamela and their children, he worked as an auto technician at Gettle Toyota. During an evening gathering an argument between Spry and 40-year-old Tex Gifford of Sebring escalated; Gifford left but returned with a firearm and shot Spry at least six times, killing him. A 28-year-old man from Lake Wales was also wounded and survived.

Officer Emmanuel Viera, who was patrolling nearby, heard the gunfire and found Spry unresponsive; emergency responders were unable to revive him. Police issued a warrant for Gifford, who was later arrested in Winter Haven and charged with first-degree murder. The Lake Wales Police Department continued collecting evidence and witness statements as the community mourned Spry’s death.

If anyone attended that gathering or has information about the events that night, please share what you know.