Florida teens charged with attacking romantic rival, running over victim's mother in street

WKMG-TV reports a Florida woman has died weeks after a group of teenagers allegedly ran her over in the street as she defended her son, who had been assaulted by the teens as part of an ongoing romantic dispute, deputies said.

Suzette Penton, a librarian in Polk City, died last week from injuries suffered in the Nov. 9 crash, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. An arrest affidavit said the crash left Penton with a traumatic brain injury involving a severe brain bleed and skull fracture, a broken leg, a ligament injury to her left knee and she was aspirating fluid into her lungs.

MORE: 'Senseless tragedy:' Florida woman dies weeks after being run over while defending son - WKMG

Elijah Stansell, 18, was booked into the Polk County Jail for attempted felony murder; burglary with assault; and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was additionally charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor on a victim 15 years old.

On November 26, 2020, the three teens were charged as adults and moved to the juvenile dorm at the Polk County Jail, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Nov. 10, 2020:

POLK CITY, Fla. (TCD) --

A Polk City woman was hospitalized in critical condition after she was run over by a vehicle driven by a teen who had come to attack her son on Monday afternoon.

Polk County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a woman run over by a van at a Polk City residence about 2:50 p.m. Monday. The victim was hospitalized in critical condition. A description of the vehicle was issued to law enforcement, and deputies and Auburndale Police officers soon located the vehicle.

Investigators said Elijah Stansell, 18, brought three friends -- 16-year-old Raven Sutton, 15-year-old Kimberly Stone, and 14-year-old Hannah Eubank -- to the unidentified victim's house to "handle" an ongoing romantic dispute, according to the sheriff's office.

After banging on the front door, Stansell allegedly physically attacked the male victim in the carport. As the victim went back inside, followed by Stansell and Sutton, the victim's mother arrived home, and the suspects ran away.

The victim's mother followed the suspects to their van, which was parked across the street, taking cellphone pictures of the suspects and the van.

Investigators said Stansell intentionally ran into the woman while she stood in the street, even though there was reportedly enough room to move around her, then rolled over her body and drove away.

Eyewitnesses were present, and surveillance video reportedly shows the suspects at the scene attacking the victim, then running over the woman, the sheriff's office said.

The woman remained hospitalized in "very critical condition" Tuesday, officials said.

Stansell was booked into the Polk County Jail for attempted felony murder; burglary with assault; and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was additionally charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor on a victim 15 years old, a crime that was discovered after his arrest on Monday.

Sutton, Stone and Eubank were arrested and taken to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center on charges of attempted felony murder and burglary with assault.

Detectives said Stone admitted she showed Stansell where the target lived, and stayed in the van while the other three went to "handle it," the sheriff's office said. Detectives said all four admitted to going to the house, being in the van when the woman was struck, and fleeing the scene. The teen suspects are reportedly from the Winter Haven/Auburndale area.