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On January 9 at 6 a.m., Durant Rd. resident Bruce White answered a knock at his front door and was shot by an unknown white male. He later died from his injuries. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responded quickly and locked down five local schools, but the shooter was never located and in effort to find the killer, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) and Crime Stoppers are offering rewards for information leading to an arrest in the case.
White, who was 61 years old, owned the 72-acre strawberry farm at the corner of Durant and Yukon roads, just south of Plant City. He had lived there since 1974.
According to HCSO spokeswoman Debbie Carter, White's wife Francis, heard shots shortly after her husband went to answer a knock on the door.
"She then discovered her husband just inside the front door in the foyer area," says Carter. "Her husband relayed that the individual that shot him was an unknown white male, in need of a shave."
White was transported to Brandon Hospital where he died.
FSGA executive director Chip Hinton has organized a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
"Thanks to donations from the strawberry community, the FSGA is offering a $12,000 reward," says Hinton. "We are still accepting donations to add to the reward from anyone who can help."
Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of $1,000 for information and anyone who can help should contact the HCSO at 247-8200.
In late February, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested White’s son Michael, 35, who also lives at the property. Michael was arrested on charges he stole more than $309,000 from a family checking account. Although Michael is not cooperating, deputies continue to search for the murder weapon in local ponds and for a shooter. “This was not a random act of violence,” said Col. Gary Terry.
Michael’s charges include grand theft, identity theft, scheme to defraud and possession of two, short-barreled shotguns-not used in the shooting.
He was still being held on $117,000 bail at press time.
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