In the quiet, close-knit community of Middleburg, Florida, a chilling tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Monday, August 4, 2025, leaving residents reeling and a family shattered. At just 14 years old, Trevor Lee stands accused of committing an unthinkable act: fatally shooting his parents, David Lee, 44, and Brandi Smith, 45, in their home near Silver Point and County Road 220. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has charged the teen with two counts of second-degree murder, as authorities and neighbors alike grapple with the devastating question of how such a tragedy could unfold.
The harrowing sequence of events began just after midnight, when Trevor placed a 911 call that would send shockwaves through the community. In a voice trembling with emotion, he confessed to the dispatcher that he had killed his parents. He told authorities he had walked a mile from his home to the parking lot of Cross Pointe Church on Fleming Island, where he waited to surrender himself. The call, later released in a heavily redacted form due to the ongoing investigation, captured a haunting exchange between the teen and the dispatcher, whose calm and compassionate demeanor stood as a beacon of humanity in a moment of darkness.
“Take a deep breath because they’re going to come up and talk to you, so you need to be listening for them, OK?” the dispatcher urged Trevor, her voice steady yet warm.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his words carrying the weight of a young life forever altered.
In a poignant moment, Trevor’s vulnerability surfaced as he made a heartfelt request. “I was gonna ask if you could pray for me, ma’am,” he said softly.
“I’ll definitely be praying for you, son,” the dispatcher responded, offering solace in a situation that defied comprehension. Her professionalism and empathy, later praised by Sheriff Michelle Cook, ensured Trevor remained calm and cooperative until deputies arrived at the church around 3:48 a.m., taking him into custody without incident.
Meanwhile, deputies rushed to the family’s home in the 1800 block of Silver Point, where they were met with a grim scene. Inside the couple’s bedroom, David Lee and Brandi Smith were found lifeless, each with multiple gunshot wounds. Several spent shell casings littered the room, and a firearm—believed to belong to the parents—was recovered at the scene. Sheriff Cook revealed that the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic argument between Trevor and his parents on Sunday night, though the exact nature of the dispute remains under investigation. The weapon, left behind by Trevor as he fled to the church, has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing probe.
The tragedy has left the Middleburg community in a state of disbelief, particularly those who knew the Lee family. David and Brandi were described by friends and neighbors as a warm, loving couple who seemed like any other family. Kyree Beamon, Trevor’s best friend since elementary school, spoke with raw emotion about the family he considered his second home. “They were probably the best, or one of the best families, I knew,” Kyree told reporters. “They were funny, and they treated me very well. They told me all the time that they loved me like a son, and they treated me as such.” His words painted a picture of a family full of laughter and warmth, making the tragedy all the more incomprehensible.
Kyree’s mother, Nakimah Sheree, echoed his sentiments on social media, sharing photos of Trevor and Kyree playing football together, their smiles a stark contrast to the grim reality. “In the blink of an eye, my baby lost his best friend and his second parents,” she wrote, her words heavy with grief. “The last thing [Brandi] said to me was, ‘You know we love Kyree like he was our own!’ And I knew it to be true.” Kyree, who spoke with Trevor just hours before the shooting, recalled their final conversation around midnight. “He told me he loved me and he was calling to say goodnight,” Kyree said, unaware if the call came before or after Trevor dialed 911.
Sheriff Michelle Cook addressed the community in a somber news conference, emphasizing that the incident was isolated and posed no further threat. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” she said, her voice reflecting the weight of the loss. “Our hearts go out to the family members, neighbors, and friends affected by this horrific act. We are working diligently to understand what led to this and ensure justice is served.” Cook noted that investigators are delving into Trevor’s mental health history and school records, seeking answers to what drove a seemingly ordinary teenager to such an extreme act. Records also revealed five prior service calls to the family’s rented home, though details remain sparse due to the redacted arrest report.
As Trevor awaits his fate at the Duval County Juvenile Detention Center—Clay County lacks its own juvenile facility—the community mourns the loss of David and Brandi, whose lives were cut short in their own home. Mental health professionals and grief counselors have been dispatched to Trevor’s school, where he and Kyree had recently finished Lakeside Junior High and were preparing to start at Fleming Island High. The outpouring of support underscores the profound impact of the tragedy on a tight-knit community struggling to make sense of the senseless.
The investigation continues, with detectives piecing together the events leading up to that fateful Sunday night. Sheriff Cook has urged anyone with information about Trevor or his parents to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 904-264-6512 or share tips via Safer Watch. As Middleburg grapples with this heartbreaking loss, the memory of David Lee and Brandi Smith lingers in the words of those who loved them—a family described as “happy, joking, and doing family things,” now forever changed by a tragedy that defies understanding.
