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Shooting prompts school lockdown

A Plant City man was fatally wounded early Monday after he answered his door, authorities say.

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published January 9, 2006

PLANT CITY - Sheriff's detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a longtime Hillsborough County strawberry farmer at his rural home.

Bruce White, 61, was home with his wife Francis early Monday when someone knocked on the door, 6345 Durant Road. White opened the door while his wife remained in another part of the house, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Francis White heard what sounded like gunshots, then ran to the front door and discovered her husband on the floor, bleeding from a gunshot wound.

White was rushed to Brandon Regional Hospital, where he died, Carter said.

But before he died, White told his wife the attacker was a white male in need of a shave, Carter said.

The shooting prompted nearby public schools - Durant High School, Turkey Creek and Mulrennan middle schools and Robinson and Nelson elementaries - to go into lockdown during the morning hours, Carter said.

White's home is tucked at the back of his more than 40-acre strawberry farm, where his daughter also has a home. Migrant workers live in trailers at the front of the property, and visitors to White's house have to travel a long dirt road to get to his front door.

[Last modified January 9, 2006, 13:21:42]