Ariz. driver sentenced for punching woman and killing her boyfriend after she honked at him

MESA, Ariz. (TCD) -- A 35-year-old man will spend 25 years in prison for assaulting a driver and fatally striking her boyfriend with his truck during a road rage incident in 2020.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced March 26 that a judge handed down the sentence against Frank Lawrence III for the death of James Ackerman Jr. and the assault of Carolyn Bui. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault.

According to the attorney's office, on the evening of Jan. 11, 2020, Bui honked at Lawrence when he drove into her lane as she was about to make a left turn. Lawrence reportedly followed Bui to her apartment complex and "drove donuts" in the parking lot. He then got out of his car and punched Bui in the face.

Bui's boyfriend, Ackerman, reportedly tried to record Lawrence's license plate. Prosecutors said, "Lawrence then chased Ackerman down with his truck, striking and killing him."

According to KTVK-TV, Lawrence fled the scene following the incident. Mesa police reportedly located and arrested Lawrence on Oct. 1, 2020, on an initial charge of first-degree murder.

Mitchell said in a statement, "This defendant’s out-of-control behavior cost the life of an innocent victim. Road rage is a criminal offense that happens all too often in our state."

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