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Brother: Bar shooting victim loved pool, life

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Stephanie D. Butler, seen with her brother, was shot by a gunman who entered the Picadilly Sports Bar on Busch Boulevard.

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2009

Updated: 06/13/2009 06:21 pm

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Stephanie Butler

TAMPA - Stephanie D. Butler was a loving woman who could outwork nearly any man and loved to shoot pool, said her brother Greg Butler.

She experienced her share of troubles. She lost her oldest child in a Kentucky fire. Her father is dying of cancer.

Now Tampa Police are looking for her killer. Police say someone shot Butler, 39, inside the Picadily Sports Bar on 2806 E. Busch Blvd early this morning.

Just before 1 a.m., two Hispanic men walked into the bar, according to police. One man waved a gun.

Butler, of 2903 W. Waters Ave., Lot 3, confronted the men and was shot, according to police. The suspects then fled, possibly in a white sport utility vehicle, north on 28th Street. Dispatch received a call about the incident at 12:40 a.m. and one minute later, police arrived at the bar to find Butler with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Officers at the scene performed CPR, but Tampa Fire Rescue pronounced Butler dead at the scene.

A friend of Butlers said witnesses told her that Butler was shooting pool and confronted the men with her pool stick.

"They both came in and one walked toward the bar area one backed back out and pulled out his gun," said Jennifer Humphrey. "Steph saw it and confronted him with the cue stick there were three clicks and then a loud bang and they saw her fall. The shooter went back out the back door and the other through the front. Their car was parked down on 28th st they jumped in and took off."

One of the suspects is described at being in his mid-20s, thin build, low black hair cut, possibly wearing a white shirt. Detectives do not have a good description of the second suspect

Police are searching for the SUV and the suspects.

Butler had three children, two girls and one boy, said Greg Butler in an email to the Tribune. "The oldest girl, Cayla, died in a tragic house fire in Kentucky."

Her sister, he said, "was a strong willed woman, with a taste for good times and good friends. Loved people more than things, was willing to give the shirt off her back to help someone in need. Loved to shoot pool, and once played Jeanette Lee in an exhibition game."

Butler, said her brother, "was a hard working woman, and could master just about any thing she attempted to learn in a short period of time. Could out work most men. Was devoted to family and friends, desiring to please others before herself."

She was "the baby of the family," said Greg Butler. Aside from Cayla, her children's names are Ashley, and Joey, said Greg Butler.

"Ashley just graduated high school," he said. She and her brother, "live with the grandparents in Kentucky."

Neighbors said Butler was outgoing and tried to make those around her happy.

"She'd cheer everybody up. But now she's gone and everybody's thinking about her," said Jenny McCarthy. "We all love her and we're going to miss her."

Butler "had been a fuel truck driver for several years, and later a tractor trailer driver here in Florida," said Greg Butler. "She was laid off from the Wilson Miller survey company a little over a year ago and was trying to make ends meet any way she could. One word to describe her is TUFF. Growing up the youngest of the family with all brothers she was a tom boy early on and could handle most anything thrown at her."

Among the stresses Butler was dealing with was the pending death of her father, according to Humphrey.

"She had been there all night winning on that table so I know she was on top of the world," said Humphrey. "She had been dealing with the fact that her father is dying from lung cancer and would be loosing him soon. He has been given three months himself. So to know she was enjoying herself to the last moment is one thing I can remember her with."

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629

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