In his mugshot, the FedEx employee who shot dead the founder of a non-profit in the early hours of the morning while he was sleeping in bed next to his wife is smirking.
According to a statement released by the Fairfax City Police Department, Joshua Daniel Danehower, 33, has been charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting death of 32-year-old Glyer.
Danehower, a FedEx employee, knew Glyer, his wife, Heather, and their two young children, Gryphon, 6, and Gailiee, 22 months.
‘It was not random,’ Fairfax City Police Lieutenant Matthew Lasowitz told DailyMail.com on Thursday.
The lieutenant confirmed the suspect worked for FedEx at Dulles International Airport, but he wasn’t sure what position he held.
According to Lasowitz, the backdoor of the family’s home on Bolton Village Court was left unlocked, which is how the suspect allegedly gained entry.
Danehower walked into the home’s master bedroom early Friday morning and fired several bullets into Glyer, who was sleeping next to his wife, Heather.
She dialled 911 and informed the operator that she believed an intruder had broken into her home.
‘She heard a loud noise and believes her husband has been shot. She believes someone came into the house,’ a dispatcher said, according to Fox 5 DC.
Glyer’s wife was uninjured during the ambush. Their two young children, who were also in the home at the time of the shooting, were also unharmed.
Fairfax Police could not confirm to DailyMail.com whether Heather is a suspect in the case at this time, as the investigation is ‘very active.’ Heather could not be reached for comment.
‘A motive is not yet known nor is the relationship with Glyer and the suspect,’ Lasowitz said. ‘We are looking into any possibility.’
Danehower was arrested on Tuesday during his work shift at Dulles International Airport. He is being held without bond in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Glyer, his wife and two young children had just moved to Fairfax City, an area with tree-lined streets and white-picket fences, six months ago. It’s not clear where the family had been living before.
Fairfax City has a population just shy of 25,000 and Lasowitz described the neighborhood Glyer resided as ‘incredibly safe.’
‘We haven’t had a homicide in this community since July 2008,’ he said, adding that it’s ‘not uncommon for people to leave their property or vehicles unlocked,’ though it is strongly discouraged.
Regarding the rear door being unlocked at the Glyer home, Laskowitz said he didn’t know ‘why the door was open’ when officers arrived at the residence.
He also added that the airport is approximately 15 miles away from the victim’s home.
At a Thursday press conference, Captain Jeff Hunt of the City of Fairfax Police Department’s criminal investigations division, announced the arrest of Danehower, saying it appears he ‘acted alone.’
The family’s next-door neighbor heard three gunshots, according to Fox News.
Gerald Searles, 54, who lives next door, said he and others are on edge after the shooting, despite Fairfax police saying there is no further ‘threat to the community.’
‘We definitely are just being a little bit more vigilant about just keeping our eyes and ears open,’ he told Fox 5 DC. ‘I don’t think many people saw or heard anything at that time in the morning, but we definitely are just taking precautions and doing what’s necessary to feel more comfortable.’
Fairfax police also told Fox 5 DC that the home’s backdoor was open, but did not disclose if the department saw any signs of forced entry.
Glyer’s wife issued a statement on Wednesday, describing her husband of four years: ‘Gret was my best friend and an incredible husband and father,’ she said. ‘He had an amazing heart for helping the people who need it most, and I know that legacy will live on.’
Glyer moved to Malawi in 2013, where he taught mathematics at a Bible school, according to his LinkedIn profile.
According to his online obituary, the life-changing experience inspired Glyer to establish the nonprofit Housing for Orphans and Widows in Malawi, which worked to build homes in rural areas and a primary school for girls.
In 2016, he returned to the United States and founded DonorSee, a fundraising platform with the mission of ‘building a global support network for the world’s poorest,’ according to its website.
The non-profit employs about 15 people.
The interim CEO of DonorSee, Owen O’Doherty, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he doesn’t know Danehower and has no connection to the website.
According to The Washington Post, O’Doherty and his colleagues are “still incredibly shocked and deeply saddened” by the tragedy, describing Glyer as “an inspirational leader and an amazing guy.”
A GoFundMe page has been established to help with funeral expenses as well as to ‘provide for his wife and children.’
As of Thursday afternoon, they had nearly $136,000 toward their goal of $150,000.
A $75,000 fundraiser was also set up on Glyer’s own DonorSee website, which had reached $48,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
‘Everyone at DonorSee has heavy hearts today and we grieve the loss of our inspirational Founder Gret,’ the web site read.
‘As many of you will know, Gret lived his life in the pursuit of helping others. He has left a legacy that will live on through DonorSee of changing the world for the better and helping those who need it most. He is a shining light that inspired those he met, and many more he did not meet.’
Glyer set up DonorSee in 2016 – three years after he had moved to Malawi, Africa, and his life was ‘transformed,’ according the company’s website.