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Apparent Murder-Suicide Rocks Restaurant

News Channel 8 photo by ANTHONY ALLRED

Investigators work at the scene of the shooting.

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By MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

Updated: 05/31/2008 09:29 pm

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• Restaurant Manager Shot

  Matthew White

BRADENTON — Pamela Lerose greeted breakfast patrons at Peach's restaurant with big hugs and a smile, friends and family say.

The constant "sweetheart," Lerose, 39, walked diners to their tables and when something broke, she was right on it. Water glasses and coffee mugs remained filled.

Peach's was packed Saturday morning, like usual, when police say Lerose's ex-boyfriend, armed with a pistol, stormed into the restaurant through a rear door, grabbed Lerose and dragged the manager outside. Matthew B. White took Lerose to a nearby tree, where he fatally shot the mother of three in her back and head, killing her.

Diners and customers at the shopping plaza in the 5700 block of Cortez Road West describe hearing Lerose screaming. At least several shots were fired.

An errant bullet tore into a storefront window, lodging in a wall. Patrons made frantic calls to 911 on cell phones.

Police officers responding to the gunfire immediately spotted White's get-away vehicle - he sped off in Lerose's Jeep - and chased it through residential neighborhoods for 10 minutes. Officers lost sight of White, who was blowing red lights and stop signs. Police were worried that White was driving to Lerose's home to confront her children.

Vulgar Messages, Intrusions

White, 27, of Parrish, was found in a vehicle with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head in the 3100 block of 36th Avenue West. Friends of Lerose said White stalked his former lover, leaving vulgar messages at times and showing up without permission at her Bradenton home.

Lerose, friends said, had dated White for several months before breaking up with him this year. Despite a troubled relationship, friends say, Lerose feared filing a restraining order against White, who was arrested on a domestic battery charge in December 2006. White made Lerose feel young.

"It's just senseless," said Lerose's ex-husband, David Riester, 50, who has known Lerose for a decade. "She was a wonderful person, a sweetheart, and a great mom. She always had a smile. She couldn't do enough for the customers."

Lerose, who has two daughters, ages 16 and 14, and a 12-year-old son, was killed about 50 feet from the entrance to Peach's, which serves breakfast and lunch between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

A co-worker said: "Nobody can replace Pam." Peach's owner, Michael Luciano, said Lerose had worked there for about six years and was a model employee.

"This is a crazy tragedy," Luciano said outside the store Saturday as co-workers cried. "You read about this but you never expect it to touch home."

Cyndi Bryant, a co-worker and longtime friend of Lerose's, said Lerose called police Saturday morning from Peach's to report seeing White in the backyard of her home hours earlier.

Nobody at the restaurant thought twice when White walked in through the back door, which is unlocked, about 10:30 a.m.

White had been in the restaurant many times before. After he and Lerose broke up, White reportedly called the store constantly, wanting to talk to Lerose.

Bryant said Lerose screamed her name as she was rushed outside the crowded restaurant.

Lerose struggled to get away and was shot once in her back. Bryant raced over to her friend, telling her everything would be OK.

"I yelled at him, 'I can't believe you shot her!'" Bryant recalled.

White was preparing to drive away when he stepped out holding the gun.

Bryant ran, fearing for her life.

White walked back to Lerose, picked up her head and shot her again, Bryant said. A customer sped off after White.

Assault Charges Dropped

White, who had worked nights at a Wal-Mart in recent years, was arrested in December 2006 on a charge of domestic battery. He was accused of grabbing a woman's neck and throwing her into a wall, court records show.

The state declined to file charges a month later. It was not known Saturday why the state did not go forward with the case against White, who turned 27 on Wednesday.

Friends say Lerose was the victim of domestic battery in January when White reportedly grabbed her hair and strangled her. Yet Lerose did not call the police.

Lerose, a native of Virginia who attended Southeast High School in Bradenton, divorced in 1998 and remarried in April 2005. Divorce papers were filed a year later. She has remained close to her ex-husband.

Lerose doted on her children, friends say, taking her daughters to dance lessons and her son to skateboard parks.

Her bubbly personality meant eating at Peach's was like eating with family, said Joan Dutrow, a longtime patron. "It won't be the same without her," she said.

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