Prosecutors secure 50-year sentence in 2009 road rage incident
A South Holland man was sentenced to 50 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the shooting death of a man following a road rage incident in 2009, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Mikel Pernell, 34, of the 400 block of East 162nd Street, South Holland, was convicted in September of First Degree Murder in the death of 30-year-old George Cruz of Burbank.
According to prosecutors, on September 18, 2009, Cruz was driving northbound on Torrence Avenue near 108th Street when he realized he needed to make a left hand turn at 105th Street. Cruz changed lanes, accidentally cutting off Pernell’s vehicle. Pernell then drove alongside the passenger side of Cruz’s vehicle, yelling at Cruz. After Cruz apologized and said he needed to turn at 105th Street, Pernell drove off and pulled over near 105th and Hoxie. Cruz also stopped near 105th and Hoxie. Pernell then reached out of the window of his car with a gun and shot at Cruz, hitting Cruz in the left eye. Pernell then drove off. Cruz died as a result of his injury.
Based on a witness’ description of Pernell’s vehicle, Pernell was located and arrested a short time later. The witness also identified Pernell in a line up.
Cook County Judge Carol Howard sentenced Pernell to 50 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections yesterday during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Mercedes Luque-Rosales and Sheri Bennet and the Chicago Police Department for their work on this case.
