In the early hours of a February morning in Yonkers, New York, a night out tragically ended in the death of 51-year-old Francisco Gordillo. On February 26, 2024, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Gordillo was giving a ride home to a younger man he had been out drinking with. Shortly after arriving at the passenger's residence, the man, identified as Ludvin Ramos-Cervantes, then 18 years old, briefly went into his apartment and returned to the vehicle with a.
45 caliber pistol.
An argument that had begun earlier between the two men escalated violently upon his return. Ramos-Cervantes wrapped his arm around Gordillo and fired a single shot, striking him in the head. First responders were called to the scene near Willow Street and Mount Carmel Place where they found Gordillo inside his red pickup truck with a gunshot wound to his head. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Initially, Ramos-Cervantes claimed to the police that Gordillo had taken his own life. He later changed his story, alleging that the gun belonged to Gordillo and had discharged accidentally. However, the investigation conducted by the Yonkers Police Department led to the arrest of Ramos-Cervantes later that same day. He was initially charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree.
In March 2025, Ludvin Ramos-Cervantes, then 19, was convicted at trial of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. The following month, he was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for the weapons charge and a concurrent sentence of 5 to 15 years for the manslaughter charge. The judge imposed the maximum allowable penalty for the manslaughter conviction.
