Three trucking company employees are dead and two are injured after a long-time employee of Pritchett Trucking Inc. methodically drove around Union County, Florida and shot his former co-workers and boss.
The incident occurred Saturday morning. Police say Hubert Allen Jr., 78, drove from location to location shooting and killing his former boss and former c0-workers, then Allen turned the gun on himself.
At approximately 9 a.m., Allen drove to a property owned by his former boss Marvin Pritchett, founder of Pritchett Trucking, where he shot and killed former co-worker Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado, 28. He then went a short distance and killed Pritchett, 80.
Moments later, Allen drove to where another former co-worker, Lewis Mabrey Jr., 66, was driving a farm tractor. The two exchanged words and Allen shot him. As of Sunday, Mabrey was in the hospital and in good condition.
Next, Allen drove to Pritchett’s headquarters and shot David Griffis, 44, in the stomach. He is listed in critical condition.
Allen then drove to his home– which was built and owned by Pritchett– and turned the gun on himself.
Other new stations have reported that Allen and Pritchett had a good relationship and were considered very close at one time. No one knows Allen’s motives for the shootings, though police say a suicide note was found in Allen’s home.
First Coast News reported that Allen had retired several years ago.
The shootings stunned Pritchett employees and the community.
Former Pritchett employee, Bill Thomas, said Pritchett was a good employer. “He arrived at work before anyone else. He was always there for his employees,” he said.
On Sunday, the flags at Pritchett’s were lowered to half-staff.
Steve Perez, CFO of Pritchett Trucking, released this statement:
“Today’s tragic events have shocked and saddened the Pritchett Trucking family. We mourn the loss of our founder, Marvin Pritchett, and of Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado, and we pray for the recoveries of Lewis “Buddy” Mabrey Jr. and David Griffis. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of their families, and at this time our sole focus is on those impacted by today’s events. Words cannot express the pain and sorrow felt by so many yet we are comforted by the memories of those lost.”
Statement from Jon, Phillip and Robin Pritchett:
“Yesterday, we lost our father and our children’s grandfather in a senseless act of violence. He was our best friend, role model and a warm and caring man who loved our family, our employees and his friends. His loss is immeasurable for all of us, including Margaret, his wife of 45 years. It is difficult to fully comprehend that he is gone.
Dad was an entrepreneur who lived his life and built his companies based on hard work. He never sacrificed his core beliefs and always put his family and those less fortunate first. He loved our community, his businesses and gave to the church and many charitable causes. He was our hero.
Our hearts go out to Rolando’s family as they share in our pain and grief today. We have also met with the families of David Griffis and Lewis Mabrey, who remain at ShandsUF (Gainesville). These are all wonderful men who have dedicated their lives to their families and our company family. They have our continuing support and prayers for the coming days and months.
Grief counselors will be available to our employees and our extended family. Our thanks go out to the men and women of the Union County Sheriff’s Office and all participating law enforcement teams who have conducted themselves with the utmost of professionalism and compassion.
On behalf of the Pritchett family, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for those near and far who have expressed their sympathies and support in our loss. It is a testament to the impact our father had on the community and the many lives he touched. We will find strength in each other and in the knowledge that Dad lived a truly honorable and full life.”