Bullet was waiting at church

Police say a pizza driver was shot in the head by someone he met in the parking lot of the Lakewood United Methodist Church.

By JOUNICE L. NEALY

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 3, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Investigators are trying to determine whether a Papa John's pizza driver shot in the head Monday at a church parking lot was lured to the church by a phony customer.

Stephen R. Cobett, 34, was in serious condition Tuesday at Bayfront Medical Center.

Police did not say how much money, if any, was stolen. They also had no information on a suspect but are treating the case as an attempted murder.

According to police reports, Cobett was shot in the parking lot of Lakewood United Methodist Church, 5995 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. S. He then drove near to the Kash n' Karry grocery store at 955 62nd Ave. S and asked for help. Police were called about 10:50 p.m.

Pastor Barbara Odom said the church was closed and no one was there, so the pizza order could not have come from the church.

"We have no idea why the person decided to use this location to lure him here," she said. "I'm grateful that he is alive. I praise God for that. We don't know who did it or what the motive is."

Cobett's family has a connection to the church. His wife and daughter have participated in a SHARE ministry, a program that allows people to buy food at half-price.

Cobett's wife declined to comment Tuesday.

Officials with Papa John's Pizza traveled to St. Petersburg to visit Cobett, who has worked for the company more than a year.

"He's part of our family," said Fernando Espinosa, director of Human Resources for PCF Development, the owner of several Papa John's franchises in Florida and Nevada.

"We can make more money, we can make more pizza, but we can never replace a smile," said Espinosa, quoting the company's motto.

Drivers are trained on safety policies.

"For example, if the house is not lit well, and if they feel somewhat threatened, (they are taught) definitely not to deliver the pizza. They call back the customer," Espinosa said.

But "we don't want to anger anybody because the other side of the coin is people feel neglected," he said. That's why drivers are told to make contact with the customer, for instance, to ask them to turn on an outside light."

Delivery drivers never carry more than $20 and are required to deposit their money in a store drop box after every delivery, he said.

"We take an extra precaution during the holidays," Espinosa said.

Cobett, of 3583 Beach Drive SE in St. Petersburg, is the third Papa John's driver in St. Petersburg to be robbed within a month.

On Dec. 20 -- Cobett's 34th birthday -- two drivers were robbed but neither were injured.

One incident occurred at 53rd Street and Second Avenue S and the other was in the 800 block of 22nd Avenue S, according to police.

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