A group of community members gathered in downtown Tavares on Wednesday, calling for the release of full body camera footage following a deputy-involved shooting that killed 38-year-old Timotheus Reed.

The gathering began outside the Lake County Sheriff’s Office before moving inside, where participants continued to press for transparency in the investigation. Many in attendance said they want to see the complete sequence of events leading up to the shooting, not just the limited footage that has been released so far.

The demonstration comes days after Timotheus was shot and killed Sunday in the Montclair area of Leesburg. Deputies were responding to a reported stabbing when the encounter occurred. Timotheus was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Photo provided.

The sheriff’s office has released 911 audio and partial body camera footage showing the aftermath of the shooting. However, the video does not include the moments leading up to the use of force, leaving unanswered questions for both family members and community residents.

According to officials, a knife was recovered near the scene. An autopsy determined Timotheus died from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Under Lake County Sheriff’s Office policy, deputies are required to activate body-worn cameras when responding to calls and during law enforcement encounters. The policy also states that recordings are handled in accordance with state and federal law and may be subject to public records requests, though access can be restricted in certain cases, including active investigations.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation.

Those who gathered in Tavares said their goal was to better understand what happened and to ensure accountability moving forward, along with demanding the name of the officer involved. The demonstration remained peaceful, with participants emphasizing the need for clarity as the investigation continues.

No additional details about the incident have been released at this time.

Photos by Aiden Dellavalle