LARGO, Fla. (AP) __ A shooting at a Florida auto shop that killed two men was triggered by a former customer`s dissatisfaction with work done on his car two years ago, police said Thursday.
The Largo Police Department said Eugene Frank Becker, 78, arrived at Stout`s Automotive in a rental car Wednesday and sought out business owner Jodie Stout, 52. Investigators say Becker pulled out a handgun and shot Stout, who returned fire with his own gun, striking Becker multiple times.
Both men later died at a hospital. The shooting brought dozens of police officers to the scene.
Police said in an email that evidence and witnesses indicate Becker felt he was overcharged when he brought a vehicle to Stout`s for service in 2021. He went to the shop Wednesday “with the intent to shoot the victim in retaliation for the perceived wrong.”
Authorities said Becker had recently been in a car crash that left him depressed, according to family members.
Largo is located just west of Tampa.
