CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – Michael Regalski, 66, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison following his August conviction on three counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, one count of Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The charges stem from an April 2023 incident where Regalski shot at an ATV carrying three people, including two juveniles, near his property. One of the juveniles was injured and airlifted to a hospital.
The victims indicated they were riding on the vehicle in the area when they heard two loud noises and pulled over, thinking the vehicle was malfunctioning.
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While stopped, one of the juveniles indicated they felt pain in their lower abdomen, and upon reaching down, immediately observed they were bleeding. Citrus County Sheriff’s officials and other medical first responders stabilized the juvenile, who was then airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
CCSO’s Major Crimes Detective Roscoe Watts responded to the scene to investigate. During this time, he made contact with Regalski, whose home was just south of where the incident occurred.
According to Regalski, he had seen the ATV with the three victims pass by his property previously while he was outside his garage. He said he had prior issues with the utility vehicles passing by his property loudly at all hours of the night.
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Regalski admitted to firing his gun at the ATV, claiming he was frustrated with the noise. He also confessed to erasing surveillance footage of the incident.
“Today’s sentencing reaffirms the justice sought for the victims and their families involved in this case,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The defendant’s dangerous actions in response to a minor annoyance led to a tragic and senseless act of violence that he will now have 65 years to reflect upon.”
Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Blake Shore prosecuted the case.
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