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‘It’s a’ terrible tragedy’ man who randomly ran over and killed Eagan couple sentenced  

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The man who pleaded guilty to intentionally running over and killing an older Eagan couple while they were on a walk has been sentenced to more than 47 years behind bars.

38-year-old Jonna Armartey pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder in the deaths of 58-year-old Diane Peterson and 74-year-old Roger Peterson.


Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom was at a loss to explain why the incident occurred. 

“Why this happen, I have no idea. It’s just a terrible tragedy,” he said. 

Peterson continued: 

“The defendant in this case claimed that he freaked out when he saw these individuals pass him when he was sitting in his van that particular evening on June of 2018 and he decided he was going to run them over and went fast and hit them hard, and that’s his words.”

There were more than 50 family members of the Petersons in court for the sentencing today, where they were remembered as a loving couple.

Armartey had been previously civilly committed for about a year and a half, "based upon a psychologist’s conclusion that he was not mentally competent," to stand trial in the case involving an assault on a psychiatrist. 

Backstrom said Armartey could have mental health issues, but the prosecution and judge agreed he could be treated in the state prison system.

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