PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Two people who died after a Wednesday shooting at an auto shop have been identified.
The Largo Police Department (LPD) said Jodie Stout, 52, and Eugene Frank Becker, 78, passed away at local hospitals.
Officers arrived at Stout's Auto, located at 1801 South Belcher Road, around 11:26 a.m. after multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooter.
After an investigation, detectives said Becker, a former customer, arrived at the shop in a rental car. When he approached the front desk, he asked for Stout, the shop's owner. After confirming he was speaking with the owner, he took out a gun and shot in Stout's direction.
Stout then allegedly pulled out his own gun and shot back at Becker. Detectives added the two shot at each other multiple times.
Police said a family member of Becker's told them Becker visited the shop in 2021 and was not only unhappy with the service but also felt he had been overcharged.
The family member then told police in that September, Becker got into a car crash in Pinellas Park. He was hospitalized and lost his car, leading to Becker feeling "somewhat depressed and extremely frustrated."
Based on the circumstances, police said it appears Becker arrived at the auto shop to shoot the victim for the perceived wrong from two years prior.
