Ordering pizza for a cozy night in is a simple pleasure for many. But for the person delivering that meal, the job can be fraught with unexpected dangers. Pizza delivery drivers are often viewed as easy targets, and tragically, some encounters turn violent. Statistics show a concerning number of these workers face assaults, robberies, and even homicide. This article shares the stories of 10 pizza delivery drivers whose lives were brutally cut short, reminding us of the serious risks they undertake every shift.
Bobby Jenkins (2019)
In 2019, Bobby Jenkins, a 30-year-old pizza delivery driver in Philadelphia, was tragically killed. He worked for Stacy’s Pizza and was reportedly lured to a vacant house that was still under construction. Investigators believe this was a deliberate setup. The attackers entered the empty home through a back entrance, armed and waiting. Bobby was found at the scene, having been shot in the chest. He was also robbed of some personal items. Sadly, he was working extra hours as a delivery driver to save money, hoping to start his own business one day.
Khaled Heeba (2020)
Khaled Heeba and his family had sought refuge in America after fleeing war-torn Syria. In February 2020, while working for Vizzini’s Pizza in Baltimore, Khaled’s life was cut short. During a delivery, he saw a troubling situation unfold. He bravely got out of his car to intervene, chasing the man causing the disturbance. Tragically, the man was armed and shot Khaled, killing him instantly. This happened just before his Friday prayers, very close to his work and home. His family remembered him as a kind, hardworking man whose compassion ultimately led to his death. Compounding their grief, Khaled’s brother in Germany couldn’t join them due to travel restrictions.
Stephanie Brainerd (2019)
Stephanie Brainerd was murdered in her car while delivering a pizza to Chesapeake’s Marina Point in 2019. Authorities discovered her killing was a setup, as the delivery address was a vacant apartment. A nearby police officer heard the gunshots and witnessed suspects fleeing in a black SUV. The officer gave chase. During the pursuit, one suspect jumped out of the moving vehicle. However, the officer managed to apprehend the other two. Tonagee Ravenel, 19, Antonio Britton, 18, and Semiya Davidson, 20, were initially charged with robbery-related offenses and later with first-degree murder for Stephanie’s death.
Joshua Ungersma (2020)
In Lafayette, Indiana, Domino’s delivery driver Joshua Ungersma faced a robbery attempt on August 31, 2020. The 19-year-old assailant, Alberto Vanmeter, was shot and killed by Ungersma during the confrontation. A neighbor heard the gunfire and rushed out to help Ungersma, calling the police. But the horror wasn’t over. Shortly after, 17-year-old Jaelynn Billups, who was with Vanmeter, approached from across the street and fatally shot Ungersma. Billups was arrested at the scene. Investigators found she had ordered the pizza to a vacant location as part of the robbery plan. She faced murder charges for Ungersma’s death and, due to felony murder laws, also for Vanmeter’s death.
David Shelton (2019)
David Shelton, a 30-year-old driver for Luigi’s Pizza in Portage, Indiana, was shot and killed during a robbery in 2019. His death marked the second fatal shooting of a delivery driver in Glen Park within a month. Two men from Gary, Terryante Flournay and Ciontay Wright, were arrested. They faced charges including murder, attempted robbery, and conspiracy. Flournay also faced a firearm possession charge as a convicted felon. A crucial piece of evidence was a phone number used to call Luigi’s Pizza, traced back to Flournay’s mother. When questioned, his mother mentioned hearing about the murder on social media. During this questioning, Flournay reportedly shouted at her, trying to prevent her from cooperating with authorities, which also led to Wright and his girlfriend’s arrest, who later admitted knowledge of the robbery setup.
John Sullivan (2014)
John Sullivan, 49, was working as a pizza delivery driver on Indianapolis’s west side in 2014 when his life was brutally taken. He was beaten to death by Derek Romano and Jeremiah Roberts. After the murder, the pair stole Sullivan’s car and fled to Wyoming, where they were eventually caught. Sullivan’s body was discovered the next day in the basement of the home where Romano and Roberts had been staying. Both men were charged with murder and imprisoned. In a grim twist, six years later, Romano murdered Roberts while they were both inmates at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Roberts was found unresponsive in his cell.
Richel Nova (2010)
Richel Nova, a father of four, was delivering pizzas in Boston in September 2010 when he was murdered. He was working hard to provide for his children’s education. Nova was lured to an empty house where he was stabbed 16 times. His attackers stole two pizzas, chicken wings, a soda, and about $140 in cash that he was carrying. Alexander Gallett and Michel St. Jean were convicted of his murder and received life sentences without parole. Yamiley Mathurin, Gallett’s girlfriend, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to at least 17 years in prison, followed by probation for armed robbery.
Najeh Masaeid (2014)
Najeh Masaeid, a 63-year-old grandfather, had been a dedicated Domino’s pizza delivery driver in the Birmingham, Alabama, area for 15 years. In December 2014, he was on a delivery run to the District at the Summit apartments. Tragically, he was found dead in a hallway at the complex. A week later, 17-year-old Corey Arrington was arrested and charged with Masaeid’s murder. Authorities suspected robbery was the motive. However, Masaeid’s colleagues mentioned he probably only had around $20 on him at the time. Arrington was also charged in connection with a prior robbery at the same apartment complex.
Giorgio Gallara and Jeremy Giordano (1997)
In 1997, young pizza delivery drivers Giorgio Gallara and Jeremy Giordano were murdered in New Jersey. They both worked for Tony’s Pizza. The pair were lured to a vacant house with an order for a couple of cheese pizzas. There, they were shot and robbed by Thomas Koskovich and Jayson Vreeland. Earlier, Koskovich and Vreeland had stolen several weapons from an outdoor sports store. They then holed up in an abandoned house and ordered the pizzas, planning to attack whoever arrived. Chillingly, their motive was reportedly “to see what it would feel like to kill someone,” leading the case to be dubbed the “Thrill Killings.” Koskovich and Vreeland were arrested the following day.
Brian Wells (2003)
The death of Brian Wells in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2003, is one of the most bizarre and complex cases involving a pizza delivery driver. Wells, who worked for Mama Mia’s Pizzeria, died as part of an elaborate plot involving a bank robbery, a scavenger hunt, and a homemade bomb. Investigators believe Wells may have been a participant in the robbery plan but likely didn’t know his life was at risk. He delivered two pizzas to an address near a TV station’s transmitting tower. There, a collar bomb was locked around his neck. It’s unclear if he knew the bomb was real. He was then given a note demanding $250,000 from a PNC Bank and a nine-page list of instructions for a “treasure hunt” to find keys that would delay and disarm the bomb. Shortly after leaving the bank with far less money, police apprehended Wells. While waiting for the bomb squad, the device detonated, killing him instantly.
These ten stories are deeply unsettling and highlight the real dangers that pizza delivery drivers can encounter. They often work late hours, travel to unfamiliar areas, and carry cash, making them vulnerable targets. While many deliveries are completed without incident, these tragic cases serve as a somber reminder of the risks involved in what many consider a simple job. The victims were sons, fathers, and individuals working to build better lives, only to have them violently taken away.
What are your thoughts on the dangers pizza delivery drivers face? Do you think enough is being done to protect them? Share your comments below.
