Joshua Ruiz, a 35-year-old Hispanic man from Houston, Texas, was a loving father whose life was cut short on December 28, 2022. His family described him as a devoted parent whose children meant everything to him. He leaves behind two daughters, seven-year-old Nali and two-year-old Alora, and an eight-year-old son, Zain. "His hugs I still feel them," Zain said of his father. Joshua’s sister, Jessica Ruiz, added, "My heart breaks for them. He's not here to raise them to guide them."
Joshua worked as a welder during the day and spent his evenings at a tattoo shop on Mesa Drive.
On the day of the shooting, Joshua visited a barbershop next door to the tattoo parlor to get a haircut. While there, he and the barber were seen laughing together. A co-worker from the tattoo shop, 49-year-old Miguel Angel Gomez, had been in a conflict with the barber earlier that day. Authorities believe that Gomez saw the two men laughing and misinterpreted it, thinking they were laughing at him. Later, Gomez allegedly confronted Joshua and shot him to death.
Investigators identified Gomez as the suspect and charged him with murder. Authorities noted that Gomez is a registered sex offender with an extensive arrest record that includes charges for Sexual Assault of a Child, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Burglary. He has also gone by the aliases Tomas Garza, Jorge Alberto Gomez, Miguell Angel Gomez, and Mike Gomez. Like Joshua, Gomez has worked as a welder, and authorities believe he may be in Edinburg, Texas.
Miguel Angel Gomez fled after the shooting and has been a fugitive ever since. Joshua’s family has pleaded for justice, hoping for the day he is captured and held accountable for his actions. As of November 2024, the search for Gomez continues. The Texas Department of Public Safety has offered a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to his arrest. The case remains unsolved.
