Former city commissioner gets 3 years for killing shoplifter

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida city commissioner has been sentenced to three years in prison for fatally shooting a shoplifter at his store. Michael Dunn was sentenced Monday in Polk County court. Court records show he pleaded guilty in March to manslaughter with a firearm. Dunn resigned from his seat on the Lakeland City Commission several weeks after the October 2018 killing of Christobal Lopez. Officials say Lopez had been attempting to shoplift a hatchet at Vets Army & Navy Surplus when Dunn, who was armed with a handgun, confronted Lopez. Video surveillance showed Lopez try to flee the store. Investigators say Dunn grabbed Lopez and then shot him twice in the torso.