Defendant Sentenced for Running Over, Killing Homeless Man

DATE: September 16, 2022

CASE: Deante Whitaker (Case #19FE016486)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Bret Wasley, Homicide Unit

The Honorable Maryanne Gilliard sentenced Deante Whitaker to 26 years to life in prison. On June 10, 2022, a jury convicted Whitaker of the first-degree murder of George Kouklis.  The jury also found true a use of deadly weapon allegation.

On August 24, 2019, Whitaker was driving on North 16th Street by Capitol Casino when the victim, a local homeless man, walked in front of his car.  Whitaker stopped and the victim yelled at him. Whitaker then drove around the victim and proceeded to drive around the block.  When Whitaker saw the victim standing at the same intersection, he drove right into him.  The victim was launched across several lanes of traffic, suffered blunt force trauma and died the next day.  Whitaker was arrested a little over a week later after calling to report his license plates were stolen.

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