Capt. James M. Gilliard, 48, a Palm Beach Gardens fire-rescue captain, died of a gunshot wound on November 2, 2020. The shooting occurred while a friend, Jay B. Rind, was showing Gilliard a gun Rind said he intended to give him; Rind told investigators the weapon discharged accidentally.

Investigators uncovered evidence that Gilliard and Rind were engaged in a conspiracy to buy and sell prescription drugs. Court records describe numerous messages between the men about drug transactions, and authorities allege the meeting that night was a drug deal in which the gun was part of the exchange. The autopsy detected amphetamines and oxycodone at levels outside therapeutic ranges, and traces of Xanax and morphine.

Rind was charged with third-degree felony murder and improper exhibition of a firearm, along with multiple drug-related charges including trafficking in morphine and conspiracies to sell oxycodone, amphetamines and morphine. He was initially charged with manslaughter before prosecutors upgraded the charge to murder; Rind was released on a $20,000 bond after arrest.

Did anyone who knew Gilliard or Rind notice their drug activity or communications before November 2, 2020?