Police: Owner of Orlando tow yard shot, killed during dispute over car

ORLANDO, Fla. – The owner of an Orlando tow yard was shot and killed Tuesday during a dispute over a vehicle at a tow yard in Orlando, officials said.

Tremain Polk, 35, was arrested in the shooting death of Paul Gren, 53, who owned the Tow Truck Co. at 639 W. Robinson St.

According to a police report, Polk became upset when he was told he owed more money than he had to get his vehicle back.

Gren and another worker told Polk that they would call police if he continued to get aggressive, and he smashed windows of several cars in the yard, the report said.

Polk got into his car and tried to leave, so Gren pulled out his gun but never raised it, his coworker told police.

Polk said he wanted to leave the business, but instead fired three shots at point-blank range, striking Gren, police said. Gren was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Workers told News 6 on Wednesday that Gren "was the best boss anyone could ask for."

Polk was found hiding at a nearby loading dock and was arrested. He faces charges of first-degree murder and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling.

Witnesses told News 6 that they saw a gunman acting recklessly moments before the shooting.

"I seen him jumping -- he (jumped) the gate, (was) trying to get his car and he couldn't get his car, so he busted out everyone's windows, even his," Jazmine Brown said.

Before police could get to the property, Brown said she heard gunshots.

"I heard about seven to eight (shots),” Brown said. “I was scared because I have a 7-month-old baby that stays right there and we sit on the porch all day.”

Brown said the gunman also shot at a family with small children waiting to get their car.

"When he jumped the gate, he went straight to his car, and then he figured he couldn't get out, and that's when he started shooting," Brown added.

News 6 covered a story involving Gren in 2015. In that case, a family said they struggled getting a car back from the tow yard because it belonged to their grandfather, who was in the hospital.

Watch News 6 for more on this story.