Officer Robert Lee Timberlake, Jr.

Robert Lee Timberlake, Jr.

Officer Robert Timberlake was shot and killed with his own service weapon while dealing with a transient in the lobby of the Tampa Federal Building at 500 East Zach Street in Tampa, Florida.

The subject had entered an elevator, and Officer Timberlake followed him at 9:45 a.m. While in the elevator, a struggle ensued, and the suspect gained control of Officer Timberlake's .38 caliber handgun and shot him several times. The subject was severely wounded by other federal agents when the elevator doors opened.

The man was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to the state mental hospital in Chattahoochee until he was ruled competent enough to stand trial, which occurred in 1980. He received prison sentences of 20 years for each attempted murder and 5 years for each assault, to be served concurrently with his time in the hospital.

Officer Timberlake was a United States Army veteran who had served with the United States General Services Administration - Federal Protective Service for eight years and previously served with the Akron (Ohio) Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife, three children, and mother.

The Tampa Federal Building was renamed the Timberlake Federal Building in Officer Timberlake's memory.