Man who accidentally shot cousin during backyard gathering sentenced to prison
A 28-year-old Wichita man who accidentally shot and killed his cousin as he was drinking and showing off guns during a backyard gathering has been ordered to serve three years in prison.
Martin David Ruiz Jr. in December pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the June 30, 2018, death of 24-year-old Anthony E. Martinez. Sedgwick County District Court Judge Bruce Brown imposed the sentence Wednesday afternoon, said Dan Dillon, spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
An affidavit released in the case says several people were drinking beer in the backyard of a home in the 2200 block of South Main when Ruiz took a handgun out of a bag of firearms, removed its magazine, racked back the slide then handed it to his cousin.
A second gun Ruiz took from the bag went off, striking Martinez, after Ruiz removed its magazine and pulled back the slide. Martinez died about eight hours later at a Wichita hospital.
Prosecutors alleged Ruiz was acting recklessly when he mixed alcohol with firearms that night.
In a written motion, Ruiz asked the judge to grant him probation in the case — saying he “is very remorseful ... and regretful for the harm” he caused. But court records show the request was denied.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 10:17 AM.
