Trucking Company Devastated After Deadly Shooting
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - News that someone shot to death one of Groendyke Transport's drivers while unloading fuel has hit company employees hard.
Company president Greg Hodgen says, "Just devastating to go through something like this."
Hodgen says he traveled from their Oklahoma headquarters Thursday morning to meet with workers in Fort Worth. "Make sure we could calm their fears, show some support for them."
Neither police nor Groendyke is releasing the driver's identity just yet.
But they say he was in his 20's, an exemplary employee and popular with his co-workers. "They said he always had a smile on his face, a hard-worker, strong work ethic."
Fort Worth police say they believe someone shot the driver in his cab at the QT at Bryant Irvin Road and Oakbend Trail between 1:30 and 2 a.m.
Employees there told police they didn't see or hear anything suspicious.
But at 4 a.m., when workers realized it was taking a long time to off-load fuel, they went to the truck, and discovered his body inside.
At least two bullet holes had pierced the windshield.
Fort Worth police are asking anyone who was in this area early Thursday morning who may have information to call them.
Detectives checked surveillance video from QT and other neighboring stores.
Customers are stunned. Michael Castro says, "It was a shock they said there was a murder here."
Groendyke's president says they tell employees not to unload fuel if they don't feel safe. "I don't know that there's anyway to look at this other than a random act of violence. We just pray for the family of this young man."
James Torres says, "We work down the road from here. It's a good area. We never heard anything like this happen before."
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