Myrtle Beach senior charged with murder in stabbing that proved fatal
A 74-year-old Myrtle Beach man was arrested and charged with murder after witnesses say he stabbed a man he was arguing with in the back.
Gary Pratt died of his injuries four days after the Oct. 5 assault, according to an arrest warrant served on Saturday. Pratt was 66 years old.
Myrtle Beach police were called to 1053 Futrell Drive in reference to an assault on Oct. 5 and saw Pratt bleeding from a puncture wound to the back side of his left rib cage. Pratt was transported to the hospital.
Witnesses told police Lonzie Carl Johnson was arguing with Pratt when Johnson pulled a knife and stabbed him before Pratt could get out of a chair.
Johnson is being held at the Myrtle Beach jail.
A search of Johnson’s criminal history revealed no prior convictions for violent crimes in South Carolina, although court records did show he pleaded guilty to threatening the life of a public official in Lexington County on Oct. 28, 2005. Johnson was sentenced to time served after spending 63 days in jail.
Emily Weaver: 843-444-1722, @TSNEmily
This story was originally published October 16, 2016 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach senior charged with murder in stabbing that proved fatal."