On what began as an ordinary Tuesday night in the small town of Gretna, Florida, 25-year-old Zaccheus Miller was shot and killed outside his residence on Oak Avenue—a peaceful, tree-lined street in the heart of the community. The call came in around 10:22 p.m., according to investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), marking the start of a bewildering investigation that has left neighbors reeling and questions unanswered.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Miller inside his vehicle, already gravely wounded from gunshot injuries. Despite rapid efforts by the emergency team, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbors were soon speaking of flashing lights, police cars, and stunned silence as the news spread through this quiet pocket of Gadsden County.
“It was terrifying,” one resident recounted. “We heard the shots and then saw all the police cars rushing in. Everyone around here is shaken up—this doesn’t happen often in Gretna.” The voice of the neighborhood rang with unease and sorrow, as many wondered how such a violent act could strike so close to home and so late at night.
As of now, FDLE officials say they have no specific suspect information to release. Detectives are still trying to piece together whether Miller was deliberately targeted or caught in a random act of violence—though at this stage, no motive has been revealed. The investigation remains active and open, with crime-scene tape still marking the spot where a young life ended far too soon.
In a town accustomed to calm, the impact of this shooting has been palpable. Friends and family of Miller, a young man known around his community, are grappling with grief, while neighbors are struggling with the shock of the moment. The air in Gretna is heavy with what-ifs: What was he doing just outside his home? Who saw anything unusual? And most of all, why?
The FDLE is urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Big Bend Crime Solvers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477). Investigators emphasise that even the smallest detail—someone who heard a car engine, or caught a glimpse of a figure—could be the key to finding the person responsible.
This is a story of a young man whose plans for tomorrow never came to pass, a community grappling with the sudden intrusion of violence, and investigators racing against time. As guilt, grief, shock and a quest for answers swirl through Gretna, the hope remains that someone will step forward, and help restore a measure of peace to a town forever changed by one tragic night.
