Pinellas Park police: Employee shot, killed outside Walmart Neighborhood Market
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - A 21-year-old Walmart Neighborhood Market employee was shot and killed Friday morning in what police are calling a "targeted attack" outside the business in Pinellas Park.
According to investigators, Terrell Williams was taking a break behind the store on U.S. Highway 19 at about 11 a.m., when a car pulled up, two masked men got out and started shooting.
"It was pretty immediate," said Capt. Adam Geissenberger. "As soon as the vehicle arrived, a shooter or shooters got out of the vehicle and opened fire on the victim."
The suspects got back in the car and sped away. Williams was rushed to the hospital where he passed away.
Hours later, investigators were upfront about how much they knew about the shooters.
"Nothing. And I hate to say it in as bold a statement as that," said Geissenberger.
Williams' coworkers were stunned to hear about what happened.
"It's just sad that it had to happen. He was an employee and it happened on the job," said Clenton Jackson, who said he believes Williams had worked there about a month. "It's just so sad that his family has to deal with this ordeal."
In a statement, a spokesperson for Walmart said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our associate Terrell Williams. We are assisting law enforcement however possible."
"He was just a good person, from what I knew," said Jackson, adding he feels fortunate he wasn't caught in the crossfire. "I come out here all the time so I could have been involved in it also. I could have been hit by it just walking through this."
Police believe the suspects were driving a white Honda Accord or Civic. They wore masks and covered their arms. Anyone with information should contact Pinellas Park Police.