On a summer evening in Wichita, Kansas, a backyard gathering turned tragic, ending the life of 24-year-old Hispanic male, Anthony Martinez. The date was June 30, 2018, and Martinez was with about five other people, including his 27-year-old cousin, Martin David Ruiz Jr., in the 2200 block of South Main. The get-together involved drinking beer and, fatefully, the handling of firearms.
The unfortunate series of events began when Ruiz brought out a bag containing guns.
He took one handgun out, removed the magazine, and racked the slide before handing it to Martinez. When Ruiz handled a second firearm, also removing the magazine and pulling back the slide, the weapon discharged. A single bullet struck Martinez in the abdomen. He was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries approximately eight hours later.
In the aftermath, police investigated the shooting and arrested Martin David Ruiz Jr. He was subsequently charged in connection with his cousin's death. In December 2019, Ruiz pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argued that his reckless actions of mixing alcohol with firearms directly led to the fatal incident.
During the legal proceedings, Ruiz expressed remorse for the harm he had caused and requested probation. However, the court denied his request. In February 2020, a Sedgwick County District Court judge sentenced Martin David Ruiz Jr. to three years in prison for the accidental shooting death of his cousin, Anthony Martinez.
