A former employee at Pritchett Trucking Inc. based out of Lake Butler, FL went on a rampage on Saturday the 24th killing three people and wounding another before turning the gun on himself. His victims were his boss and coworkers at the trucking company.
The gunman, 72-year old Herbert Allen Jr, had retired from his job at Pritchett Trucking only a few days prior to the shooting for unknown reasons. Before he started his rampage, he left a note in his home with a list of five names on it and wrote that “these people deserve to die.” He traveled around the small town of about 1,500 people, tracking down the people on the list and shooting them.
He first went to a location owned by his former boss where he shot and killed 80-year old Marvin Pritchett who founded the company back in 1980. While he was there he also shot and killed 28-year old former co-worker Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado. He then drove to where another former coworker was driving a farm tractor on the road, had an argument with him and then shot him in the arm and side with a shotgun. The victim, 66-year old Lewis Mabrey Jr. is in good condition at the hospital. His last stop was at his old company headquarters where he shot and fatally wounded 44-year old David Griffis.
After shooting Griffis, Allen returned home where police found his body after an apparent suicide. Authorities have not revealed who the fifth intended victim was.
Locals, including members of his family and the local police department were shocked by Allen’s actions. He had never been in trouble with the police before and he was described by a sheriff’s deputy as “laid back” and “law abiding.” The deputy also said that in such a small town, everyone knew each other.
“That’s what’s really bothering us the most,” The deputy said. “We haven’t gotten the motive put together yet because all of them were friends and knew each other.”
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Source: landline
cheyenne says
The was dot and fmcsa has changed things and how co treat drivers like garbage im not surprised
Toolboy says
Doesn’t surprise me at all either. Not saying its right. But we all have worked at places ( which it seems are most these days) that are shady. Cronyism & ass kissers seem to get ahead.
Slowmo says
I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often…
Mr. Jinx says
I 100% agree, sadly. with the way companies, especially CRST treat drivers, I think this is the tip of the iceberg of tragedies to come
Roger Forgit says
What he did was wrong. I’ve thought of it myself. These dirt bag, lying, stealing , useless companies wonder how someone could get that mad. Did you notice that 90% of trucking companies have baracades between drivers, and all the other people. Makes you wonder.
HLeeming says
I think when people start figuring out what is really going on with this industry,you will see more of this. I would almost make a bet other than the shooter,none were truck drivers. And we all know the term co-worker, when it comes to the trucking industry, doesn’t work unless you are another trucker with that company. People have given to many years to this ungrateful carriers and to the ungrateful government.
JD Thomas says
This is cut-throat free-market capitalism gone awry. In the future, you will see more and more of this. Disgruntled labor being used and abused and the constant lies and abuse by the owners and corporatist capitalist who’ve over-stepped their bounds of controlling the lives of the slave-class. No one wins. I feel horrible for all parties involved. The owner of the company paid the ultimate price, perhaps after having made some bad decisions, including hiring the murderer initially. Poor choices, poor decisions and lack of care and compassion as well as likely greed and hostility led up to this horrible catastrophic event. In the end, no one came out ahead accept the mortuary and funeral home. All of the families paid the price and suffered. Let this be a lesson to us all. If you’re unhappy, leave your present employer and seek better employment. Failure to do so may ultimately lead to your own demise.
Ron says
Well said JD Thomas. There is so much “greed”,and the poor,and hardworking everyday folks are getting “fed up” of being used to make a profit,or job advancement by getting in tight with the owner. I had an owner of a company,who’s son came back from college for the summer,and his dad gave him a job. I’d been working there for two years. Guess who got let go from the company? It was me. I can understand this guy frustation,but he handled it wrong.
Alex Rolli says
Oh wow…you guys here in the comments are a bunch of sickos.
Times like this I’m ashamed to call myself a truck driver.
George Dorman says
Sounds to me like y’all are whining a bit too much. If you look at most trucking cos. books you will see most of them only make 8-10% profit a year. I don’t call that greed I say it is trying to stay in business and keep people working. I am not saying I have not worked for some scumbags for I have, many years ago when I first started driving. But like a man said if you don’t like it get another job. When I started I was making 17 cents a mile and gone all week. Now after keeping my record clean and my DAC report spotless, I am home every night,work a 5 and 2 schedule and make 90K plus a year.
Chance Way says
Just like the oil Industry claims it only makes 5 cents on every dollar invested. Really!!!!!
CA Medicine Woman says
You’re being paid over $43/hr as a company driver working local? Nope, not buying it.
As for net income (after EVERYTHING else has been paid), a moderate size company (2,000 trucks) right now is showing a net profit of about $14 million per quarter (roughly $7,200 per truck per quarter, or $0.24 per mile, on average). That translates to a net income of 12%, based on last week’s posted average freight rates and fuel prices.
BTW, I had a squeaky clean DAC and driving record, with a CSA score of zero, as well as 16 years of proven industry experience. That apparently wasn’t enough to make it worth it to my company to part with $250 to fix a brake system problem. The brakes suffered catastrophic failure the next morning, and now I drive a wheelchair.
Chance Way says
In our Country’s history a lot of people have taken up arms against injustices.If people let these profiteers run all over the working class it will never get any better. I’m not advocating violencebut what the hell are we all to do, let the Country become a banana republic.
Ray says
I don’t know why so many people are suggesting that it’s the industries’ fault. Everybody has their list of people. Nobody has a perfect job. This sort of senseless violence is never the answer. I don’t blame the trucking industry for this. As a trucker it saddens me that another trucker would do such a thing.
Robert says
Think about it this way…
The man was 72. He killed an 80 year old.
Do we know the whole story? No.
Was 72 dying from a terminal illness? Don’t know.
Was 80 a sorry individual ? Don’t know
Was there some past crap between 80 and 72? Don’t know
Before passing judgement why not get all the facts 1st.
Toolboy says
A little more facts.
1) He was a longtime employee
2) A law enforcement authority with detailed knowledge of the case said the gunman had an argument with Pritchett earlier in the week, The same source clarified an earlier report, saying the argument happened Monday and that the gunman was retired from the company, though he was still involved in some capacity and still interacted with its owner.
Coorslight 7 says
There are loyal workers that are being lied to and bullied by co-workers as well as owner. There are to many laws that help out the employers and not the employees. A compliance hot line would have help to defuse the situation. My prayers goes out to all the families in this tragic event. Also pray for the drivers who work in a right to work state. Like ga.
dmfletcher55 says
George i really love the fact you have the perfect job. Will you give it up to a younger man or women who needs it to raise their family. Since you must have started 70 years ago. Thanks for your generosity.
LilKW says
I believe there’s more to it. He just retired before he attacked former boss at work. Maybe this has something to do with his benefits. What if he received a phone call or letter, or made a phone call and learned he didn’t have enough pension or social security to retire. I just cannot believe this driver would do something like this without cause. For example, what if he worked 40 years of his life, had massive amounts deducted from his pay for retirement benefits, then learned all his money was gone, or maybe the company made false statements to insurance company, making it difficult to receive healthcare. Whatever the reason was, I its hard to believe this man killed these people for no reason at all.
qball says
I once worked for a company who employed a dispatcher who would take money form the o-o to have a profitable week ! Well that dispatcher was the biggest ass%$##@ the good lord ever stung a gut thru. Guess where that dispatcher is today….graveyard after not full filling his end of the bargain.
Craig says
I actually knew a driver who shot his operations manager many years ago.
They’d had a beef with each other for quite awhile over several issues.
One day the driver fliped out, walked in with a 9mm, and emptied
an entire clip of ammo into this guy (one shot woulda done the job).
He got 25 years to life and left his family behind forever.
They have long since installled 2″ bullet proof glass in the dispatch window there
(just like they have in some banks). It’s definitely not worth it.
If things are that bad just drop the trailer somewhere and bobtail home.
Theres always another truckin job around the next bend…