Sumter pizza delivery man shot in face speaks out

Police continue to search for assailants

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A pizza delivery man who was shot in the face while trying to deliver a pizza is now out of the hospital.

Jack Sickman has a wound on the left side of his face where the bullet entered. He also has a black eye and bruises on his neck that are the result of the bullet traveling through his face.

"It's an experience I wouldn't wish on anybody," Sickman said.

"They tried to kill me," the 46-year-old said of the two men who held him at gunpoint then pulled the trigger last week.

Sickman works for Dominoes Pizza in Wildwood and went to deliver an order someone made around 11:30 last Wednesday night. But he quickly found he was set up.

A woman called and placed the order. She said her boyfriend would be waiting in front of the house because the house numbers were hard to see.

When Sickman got to an area near the intersection of County Road 462 and 235, two men approached him. One stuck a rifle in his face and demanded money.

"They said, 'Give me the money,' and that was about the extent of the conversation, and I'm telling them, 'Don't shoot me. Don't kill me,'" Sickman said.

The gunman pulled the trigger anyway, then the men pulled Sickman from his truck and robbed him. He had $35 in cash, two large pizzas, 40 hot wings and a 2-liter Sprite.

During the robbery, Sickman's cellphone fell to the ground and came apart. Bleeding and struggling for life, he was able to piece it back together and call 911 for help.

Sickman said he has already had his share of challenges. A few years ago, his left leg was amputated after complications with diabetes. He now has a prosthetic. It caused him to leave a long-term career as a firefighter. He said now he doesn't know if he'll continue delivering pizzas.

The suspects may have tried to kill him, but they didn't kill his spirit, Sickman said.

"I'm one tough old bird," he said. "I've had a few things thrown at me in my life so far, but I just keep rolling with the punches,"

Anyone with any information about the suspects is asked to call the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.


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