Life in Prison for Murder

Ricky Gaspar Ruiz, 26, of Lehigh Acres, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm and Shooting At/Into an Occupied Vehicle. He was
sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender. He was found guilty on January 21
st, following a trial in Lee County.

The crime involved a shooting in Lehigh Acres in 2020. Ruiz, and co-defendant Victor Colon Jr., chased down people, through rush hour traffic, in a car chase. The cars then came to a stop and Ruiz got out of his vehicle and shot the victim 16 times. The defendants then fled and were captured in Hialeah by the U.S. Marshals. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation.

The co-defendant in this case is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14th.

Homicide Unit Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller and Assistant State Attorney Andrew Riordan prosecuted the case.

Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office