In the quiet neighborhood of North Amityville, a life was tragically cut short on a Saturday evening. Seventeen-year-old Robin Moscoso-Hernandez, a male from Bethpage, was visiting his best friend, 20-year-old Bryan Ventura-Ramirez, at his home on Francine Avenue. What began as a typical evening between friends took a devastating turn.
Inside Ventura-Ramirez's bedroom, a single gunshot shattered the peace. Moscoso-Hernandez was struck in the chest.
A frantic 911 call was made, and first responders arrived to find the teenager gravely wounded. He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he underwent surgery but ultimately succumbed to his injuries later that night. The bullet had pierced his heart and liver.
The shooter, Bryan Ventura-Ramirez, was immediately taken into custody. He was charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a firearm. According to his defense attorney, the shooting was a tragic accident between best friends. Ventura-Ramirez allegedly believed the 9mm pistol, a 'ghost gun' made with a 3D printer and lacking a serial number, was unloaded when he pointed it at his friend and pulled the trigger. Initially, he reportedly told police that Moscoso-Hernandez had shot himself, but later admitted to pointing the gun and pulling the trigger, believing the magazine was out.
Ventura-Ramirez pleaded not guilty to the charges and was later indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminal possession of a firearm, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $100,000 cash or a $300,000 bond. His lawyer stated that Ventura-Ramirez was distraught over the death of his best friend and that the victim's parents supported him and his family, believing it to be an accident. If convicted of the top charge, he faces a potential prison sentence of 5 to 15 years.
