Michael Ball, Beverly Hills, FL, sentenced to life for March 2020 shooting death of neighbor

On Sept. 15, 2021 Michael Kenneth Ball, 64, of Beverly Hills, FL, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Richard “Ric” Howard to life in prison for second-degree murder with a firearm and five concurrent years for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Ball had been found guilty of the charges on Aug, 4, 2021, after a three-day trial regarding the shooting death by Mr. Ball of his neighbor, 32 year-old Tyler Dorbert, on March 25, 2020.

Ball was initially charged with carrying a concealed firearm. The second degree murder charge was made about a month later when a warrant was granted by the State Attorney's Office, Fifth Judicial Circuit. It was determined in a June 16-17, 2021 hearing that Ball did not meet the criteria for a "stand your ground" defense, and he would go to trial for second degree murder.

Shortly after 7:30 pm on March 25, 2020, deputies and emergency medical services (EMS) were dispatched to a S. Monroe St., Beverly Hills residence due to shots being fired during an argument between the two men. Mr. Ball had shot Mr. Dorbert, who was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS.

Ball claimed he'd been in fear of Mr. Dorbert since April 2018, when he'd allegedly been punched on his face when he went onto Dorbert's property to retrieve a cat. During the trial, it was determined that Mr. Ball had initiated the altercation on the day of the shooting, that Ball was the primary aggressor, and Mr. Dorbert was unarmed during the incident.

Ball was heard before and during the sentencing, protesting that he was being railroaded and his freedoms had been denied. When he protested his sentencing with profanity, bailiffs removed him from court, and he could be heard yelling that his neighbor had attacked him.

Mr. Dorbert leaves behind two small children, a fiance, Katelyn Howard, and his mother, Linda Wikoff.