FL Man Sentenced to Life in Prison After Intentionally Running Over Veteran

Justyn Pennell, 24, of Pasco County, Florida, was sentenced to life in prison last week after pleading no contest to a charge of first-degree premeditated homicide.

Pennell plead no contest on March 21st in the premeditated homicide of 75-year-old Michael Pratt, a Vietnam veteran and grandfather on January 9, 2020.

During a January 10, 2020 press conference, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said Pennell was out running errands when he saw Pratt walking along Aripeka Road, near Old Dixie Highway around 2:45 p.m. After initially driving past him, Pennell made a U-turn and proceeded to run over Michael Pratt. Pratt tried to move out of the way, but he was struck and died at the scene.

According to Sheriff Nocco, Pennell was planning for months to kill a random person, simply because Pennell wanted to “know what it was like.” Damage to Pennell’s car caused him to pull over a quarter-mile from the scene of the accident and call 911.

Pennell was sentenced last Wednesday, March 23, and Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mary Handsel thanked Pennell for sparing Pratt’s family of a trial and hearing the 911 call he made.

Under Florida law, Pennell is not eligible for parole, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Photo: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office