Brandon Cage, a man in his 30s, was fatally shot on June 12, 2013, in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Cage, who was African American, was approached by Abel Ruiz, a 23-year-old member of the Latin Kings street gang. Ruiz demanded that Cage renounce his affiliation with the Gangster Disciples by "throwing down the fork," a hand sign used by the gang. When Cage refused and identified himself as a member of the Gangster Disciples, Ruiz shot him three times in the chest.
Cage succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 3 a.m. that morning.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when Ruiz, riding in a car with fellow gang members, instructed the driver to stop in the 3300 block of West 60th Street. Ruiz approached several people in a parked car, including Cage, and made his demands. After the shooting, Ruiz fled the scene, but the driver of the car that stayed behind called the police and provided a description of Ruiz and the getaway car. Ruiz was arrested shortly after during a traffic stop. While in police custody, Ruiz attempted to kick out the windows of a police car and was subsequently Tasered. He later confessed to the shooting while in lockup.
Ruiz was charged with first-degree murder and was convicted on May 21, 2016, after a four-day trial. He was sentenced to 51 years in prison by Judge Vincent Gaughan. The conviction and sentencing were based on the testimonies and evidence presented during the trial, which included the accounts of witnesses and the confession made by Ruiz. The case highlighted the ongoing gang violence in Chicago and the tragic consequences of gang rivalries.
