Police in Largo, Florida, have revealed that a shooting incident at an auto repair shop resulting in the deaths of two individuals stemmed from a former customer’s dissatisfaction with services rendered on his vehicle two years prior.

The Largo Police Department disclosed that Eugene Frank Becker, aged 78, arrived at Stout’s Automotive on Wednesday, driving a rental car, and specifically sought out the shop’s owner, Jodie Stout, aged 52.

According to investigators, Becker produced a handgun and shot Stout, who subsequently returned fire with his own firearm, ultimately injuring Becker with multiple gunshot wounds.

Both individuals were later pronounced dead at a hospital. The incident prompted a significant police response to the scene, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities conveyed that their investigation, supported by evidence and witnesses, suggests that Becker believed he had been overcharged for services rendered at Stout’s in 2021.

He had reportedly visited the shop on Wednesday with the intention of retaliating against the victim due to this perceived grievance.

Family members of Becker indicated that he had been struggling with depression following a recent car accident. Largo is situated to the west of Tampa, Florida.

Written by staff