Truck driver shot, killed in Tampa

TAMPA -- The driver of a semitrailer truck trying to sleep inside the cab of his 18-wheeler was fatally shot early this morning, apparently waiting for the loading docks of an East Tampa manufacturing plant to open, police said.

Police said a security guard at the Clorox manufacturing plant and distribution warehouse, located in an industrial district between E Columbus Drive and Interstate 4, heard gunshots and saw Roger Earl Lee stumble toward the entrance gate, screaming for help sometime about 4:45 a.m.

Lee, 65, of Nicholls, Ga., then collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Lee arrived at the warehouse at 4:38 a.m. He had been hauling 26 pallets of bleach product.
Lee approached the facility's guard station off N 36th Street, only to be told by a guard he was too early. A security guard told Lee the facility did not open until 8 a.m., police said.

Lee returned to his truck, parked just west of the warehouse, and was "just trying to get a couple hours sleep," said police spokeswoman Andrea Davis. His shoes were off when he ran to the gate for help.

Items were missing from his open wallet, leading police to believe the driver may have been the victim of a robbery.

Davis said there are "very few leads" this morning, but investigators continue to question witnesses and seek out any possible surveillance cameras in the area. No suspect description was available.

Please return to tampabay.com for updates.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

-- Photo by Carrie Pratt | Times

Comments

[ricco]

TAMPA A SEEDY CRIME INFESTED "PARADISE"

[matt]

what a disgusting world we live in.

[Kelly]

Maybe he bought some 'company' and got rolled. Why do thiefs feel the need to murder over a few dollars?

[thieves]

Stupid low life thieves. Kill someone for what? Couple of bucks? Disgusting.

[thieves]

Stupid low life thieves. Kill someone for what? Couple of bucks? Disgusting.

[Roger]

KELLY, the guy was just murdered. Why would you immediately think he was up to no good and blame him for his own murder ? Do you have a soul ?

[melissa]

Florida .. the toilet of the United States!

[Kelly]

Roger, how is the hypothetical assumption of buying 'company' blaming him for his own death. I was considering the location in which this crime happened. My next thought would be a drug deal gone bad. Honestly Roger, if you are looking to rob someone you aren't going to go to a remote location of an industrial district in the middle of the night. I guess I watch too much CSI.

[David]

Yes...Tampa is a seedy place. I've traveled alot and i've never seen so many low life people condensed into one area like "Tampa Bay) ie. St. Pete, Clearwater, PP, Tampa....its all seedy. Unless your a multi-millionaire living on the water....can't wait to move out of here ;-)

I hope they catch this killer before he hurts anyone else, what a lowlife dirtbag. Prayers to his family.

[Bill Ewans]

My son is a truck driver, and delivered there 2 days ago. Truck drivers are not allowed to carry guns. If they were, maybe this guy would still be alive.

[donna scott]

having been married to a truck driver I know, a driver doesn't respond to knocks in the middle of the night unless he's looking for something

[jaaa]

heshudlnt of slept

[al]

i live near tampa it is cool

[unsold]

Anyone available to buy my house

..it just ain't Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater folks. It's everywhere...VA Tech, NIU, Omaha, Salt Lake City...
If were up to me, I'd take away the guns. And don't argue that only the criminals will have them. Stop selling guns completely and eventually, they'll dissapear. Granted, there was once a time when "bearing arms" was a necessity (moreso to fight the British...but since England hasn't had a spat with us since 1812...)but in today's society, guns serve no real purpose...except for low life scum.

[A different Kelly]

KELLY: did you read this article??
"killed while sleeping inside the cab of his 18-wheeler early this morning, apparently waiting for the loading docks of an East Tampa manufacturing plant to open," He was killed while waiting for the dock to open. Many truck drivers get to their location early. Why do people always look for the worse in the victim?

12:58, that is not true at all. Guns would not disappear as there is a large, worldwide, illegal trade of guns. They have been transported into areas where guns are restricted for ages. It would in fact just ensure that the only people who have them are those who engage in illegal activity.

Poor guy was killed just doing his job, minding his own business and trying to get some rest while waiting for the facility to unload him. This area is becoming the worst place in the country to live and will only get worse as funding for law enforcement continues to get cut. I can't wait until I can get out of here.

[George]

I can't wait to move out of this state. It is full of nothing but low lifes and drug users.

Time for the good citizens of Florida (who haven't already done so) to consider taking a gun course, purchasing a weapon and getting your carry permit. If you don't defend yourself and your family, no one else is going to do it for you.

[Krayrun]

Hello to all you people out there that has posted your comments. I personally knew this man from Georgia; he lived about 3 miles from me. He had a wife and 2 children. No, he was not responsible for his murder! He was a hard working man trying to make a living. He was NOT into drugs. And yes, whoever done this, did go to a remote location. This man did nothing wrong. He was just in the wrong place when a low-life wanted money that he had not earned; to steal. Never giving a thought to this man and the fact that he had a life and family. How can humans be so cruel?

TAKE AWAY THE GUNS...stop manufacturing them, stop making bullets - true, they may always be a trade in illegal guns - but cut the supply DRASTICALLY and the price of the remaining guns will SKYROCKET - even the common scum wouldn't be able to knock off enough convenient stores then. And..stop supporting the criminals by resisting gun bans & background checks.

If you are concerned about your safety, the next Tampa Gun Show is March 1 & 2 at the State Fairgrounds.
LOCK-N-LOAD!

[diana]

This seems to be the state for rejects of other states to land. The sorry a** that did this needs a beating he'll never forget. No regard for life.

[Bud]

Ever since the chiminal justice started coddeling criminals the police every where are overwhelmed and many times re-arrest someone they just arrested a short time ago. If we made these criminals serve hard time like use to be in vogue, then when they finally got out they darn sure didn't want to go back!!!

You can bet when this cold blooded killer is caught, we'll find he has an arrest record a mile long. Hopefully they'll take him out like Polk County did Angelo Freeland so we won't have the expense of a trial.

[Caity from indy]

This is horrible. I moved from St.pete to Indiana about five years ago, and when i left, things were bed but on visits home i had seen some improvement...this along with the double homicide in st.pete today just brings the standard plumeting! I don't think that eliminating guns would solve any problems though, people will find a way to get a gun if they really want one...it is seriously troubling to think of what some people are willing to do for a couple of bucks...and 'work' is certainly not the answer.

[Jj]

Someone should wait for these robbers and blast them. Just like Charles Bronson. There was a guy in Los Angeles that did that with taggers and never went to jail. The courts rule it self defense.

[another driver]

Kelly maybe it would be different if it had been your father or someone you really cared about,the guy had just been told to park outside the gate minutes before that by the guard i really hope that you never have somthing as devistating as this in your world and i would certainly hope that there in no one else in my world that could possibly be so inconsiderate/// enough said