Justin Kates, a 37-year-old man, was found dead in the roadway on February 20, 2025, in Sorrento, Florida. Deputies responded to a shooting incident at the 31500 block of Colby Place, where they discovered Kates had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Witnesses reported that Kates had been involved in a verbal altercation with another individual before the shooting occurred.
Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Justin Joseph Raymond Fout, who fled the scene in an older model
white Dodge Ram van alongside a female passenger, Patricia Neeley, who was named as a person of interest. The van was described as having front and rear-end damage, red transfer paint on the rear, a black spray-painted rear right door, and a busted-out rear left door window.
Law enforcement agencies launched a search for Fout and Neeley, circulating images of both individuals and the vehicle. By February 21, 2025, authorities located and arrested Fout in Seminole County. However, Neeley remained missing, and investigators continued efforts to locate her. Officials stated that they needed to speak with Neeley before determining whether she would face any charges.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office issued a second-degree murder warrant for Fout, and detectives worked closely with outside agencies to follow up on investigative leads. The case remained under investigation as authorities sought additional information regarding the circumstances leading up to the fatal shooting.
