Lodi man found guilty of first-degree murder in podiatrist's death

Aaron Leathley, The Record
·2 min read
(2/2/22) San Joaquin County Public District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar speaks about charges against Robert Somerville who is accused of the killing Stockton Fire captain Max Fortuna while he was battling a blaze in downtown Stockton. On 3/24, Verber-Salazar's office announced that Robert Elmo Lee was found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2018 shooting of Lodi podiatrist Thomas Shock. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

Robert Elmo Lee, 83, of Lodi was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday for orchestrating the shooting of Lodi podiatrist Thomas Shock, the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office said.

On the evening of Aug. 1, 2018, Shock was fatally shot at his home on Rivergate Drive, Lodi. Police responding to reports of shots fired found Shock, 67, with multiple gunshot wounds just inside his front door.

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Four men including Lee were arrested that year in connection with the alleged murder-for-hire scheme. Co-defendant Mallory Stewart pled guilty to first-degree murder with a weapons enhancement for his role as the shooter.

Christopher Costello was also found guilty in 2021 for his role in the shooting. Raymond Jacquett IV was sentenced in 2019 for his role.

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Thursday's verdict came with a special circumstance of murder for financial gain.

Lee blamed Shock for his wife's death, according to a search warrant return.

“The complaint alleged Bonnie Lee had gone in to see Shock for an ingrown toenail,” Lodi Police Detective Michael Hitchcock stated on the warrant return.

“The complaint said Shock provided Bonnie Lee with substandard care which eventually (led) to her foot being partially amputated in 2014."

“The case was closed in 2016 and Shock was disciplined by the (Medical Board of California). Later in 2016, Bonnie Lee died from an infection, however, it is unknown if Shock’s treatment had anything to do with her death. Bonnie Lee’s husband is Robert Lee.”

Shock was a doctor with the Lodi Podiatry Group for 33 years until his retirement in June.He attended University of the Pacific, the University of California, Riverside, and California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco.

Lee and Stewart are scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers business, housing, and land use. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Lee found guilty of first-degree murder for podiatrist Shock's death