Tulsa Police Release ID Of Man Gunned Down At Midtown Papa John's

An Arlington, Texas, truck driver contracted by Papa John's Pizza was shot and killed early Saturday morning near the University of Tulsa. Police believe a robbery attempt ended in the delivery driver's death.

TPD Corporal Dan Miller said officers were called to the 11th Street and Delaware Avenue restaurant at about 6 a.m. They found a man near a Papa John's semi-trailer who had been shot twice, Miller said.

Police said they are looking for three people they believe are involved in the murder.

Robert Horton, 53, was taken to St. John Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"We are assuming this was a robbery attempt that went wrong," TPD Sergeant Dave Walker said in a news release. "There is no indication that any property is missing and we have yet to find any witness to the shooting."

Miller said the shooting victim and another employee arrived at the restaurant in the delivery truck. One man went into the Papa John's and the shooting victim remained outside.

"There was some kind of altercation," Miller said. The partner inside the restaurant heard a noise -- possibly several trays that were knocked down on the pavement -- and came outdoors to find his co-worker on the ground in the west parking lot area.

He began giving the victim CPR until EMSA arrived.

The man inside the building, who is also from Dallas, initially thought his co-worker had suffered a heart attack, according to an earlier news release from Walker.

The homicide unit is canvassing the area looking for anyone who may have seen anything unusual at 1100 South Delaware around 6:15 a.m. Police have checked with area businesses that have surveillance video. A poor-quality photo released Saturday night shows what appears to be a small sport utility vehicle or station wagon. Walker hopes to get better images out to the public soon.

Anyone with information about the shooting death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.