Timothy Dortch Jr., 26, will spend the rest of his life in prison following his sentencing this afternoon. He was sentenced to life in prison on one count of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, 15 years in prison for Shooting At, Within or Into an Occupied Vehicle, and 5 years on each of two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Dortch was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence on each count as a Prison Releasee Reoffender.
In May 2016 the victim drove to pick up his nephew from a home in Fort Myers after the defendant threatened him with a rifle. His brother accompanied him for the ride. When the victim arrived at the home, Dortch began firing his gun. The victim yelled for him to stop but the defendant then began shooting towards him and his car. Dortch hit both the vehicle and the victim before getting into his own car and fleeing the scene.
During the incident the brother who rode along was able to duck down inside the car and avoid being hit but the victim was shot multiple times. The nephew, who had come out of the home when he heard gunshots, rushed to the aid of his uncle and performed CPR until EMS arrived. However, the victim was pronounced dead on scene.
Dortch was found guilty as charged following a four day trial in Lee County in August. Assistant State Attorney Hamid Hunter of our Homicide Unit prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org