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Police Release New Information in Shooting Death of FSU Professor

Police have no suspects and have not hinted at a motive, saying only that the victim was targeted when he was shot in the head, not the victim of a random crime.

Investigators listed the garage as the crime scene in the shooting death of a Florida State University law professor, and a neighbor saw a Toyota Prius leaving the area after the shooting, according to a police report released Friday.

The heavily redacted police report from Tallahassee police provides few other details about the killing of Daniel Markel, which has largely been shrouded in mystery. Police have no suspects and have not hinted at a motive, saying only that Markel, 41, was targeted when he was shot in the head, not the victim of a random crime. The report says there was no sign of forced entry.

While the garage was pegged as the crime scene, police have not specified where at his home Markel was shot. Earlier this week, police asked for help in finding a vehicle of interest, though they had declined to confirm whether it was a Prius.

The report also says Markel's 2008 Honda Accord is being checked for clues and that the keys were found inside the unlocked car.

"Our investigators are using all resources available to them and are continuing to explore all of the tips that we have received," police chief Michael DeLeo said in a written statement.

Markel was born in Toronto, was the father of two boys and a 2001 graduate of Harvard Law School. He practiced white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation before joining the Florida State law school as a faculty member in 2005. He was tenured in 2010.

Police are attempting to contact anyone with a connection to Markel. CrimeStoppers has offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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