A Maricopa County judge has sentenced a 35-year-old man to spend more than two decades behind bars. The sentencing stems from a 2020 road rage incident in Arizona, where the man, identified as Frank Martin Lawrence III, fatally attacked another motorist after a dispute on the road.

The victim, James William Ackerman Jr., lost his life in the altercation while his girlfriend, Carlyn Bui [BOO-ee], was assaulted by Lawrence. According to authorities, the incident unfolded on the night of January 11, 2020, when Bui was preparing to make a left turn, Lawrence, who was driving a white Dodge pickup truck, “veered into her lane, causing Bui to honk.”

Following the confrontation, Lawrence pursued the couple to their apartment, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, where he unleashed a series of violent actions. Lawrence approached Bui’s vehicle and proceeded to reach into her car through an open window, striking her in the face while she remained secured by her seatbelt inside her car. Lawrence then returned to his vehicle and began to drive away.
Prosecutors stated that Ackerman exited the couple's vehicle to get the defendant's license plate. Lawrence then made a U-turn, passing by the couple once more before executing a second U-turn, hitting Ackerman. As a result, Ackerman was propelled onto the sidewalk, landing on his head.
According to records, Lawrence departed the scene without offering aid or notifying authorities. Ackerman was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Subsequent search warrants revealed emails from an account linked to Lawrence, in which the sender sought to return vehicle components for the same truck implicated in the incident. The sender clarified that the parts were being returned because the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Lawrence pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for Ackerman's death and aggravated assault for his attack on Bui. The court subsequently ordered him to serve a sentence of 25 years in a state correctional facility.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell condemned Lawrence's actions, emphasizing that road rage cannot be tolerated. Mitchell stated, "This defendant’s out-of-control behavior cost the life of an innocent victim. Road rage is a criminal offense that happens all too often in our state."
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com