A judge of the Fajardo court found Samuel Hernández Ventura guilty of murdering José Luis Ortiz Peña, his ex-partner’s son, in Ceiba, Puerto Rico’s Justice Department announced. Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres said Hernández Ventura faced six criminal charges for the violent death of Ortiz Peña with a firearm after learning that "the victim’s mother would end the relationship."
Since the bench trial was held without a jury, Judge Alexis Álvarez Del Valle, of the Court of First Instance in Fajardo, convicted Hernández Ventura on all counts: first-degree murder; three weapons-law violations for shooting and pointing a firearm, carrying an unlicensed firearm, and possessing unlicensed ammunition; endangering public safety by firing a gun in a public place; and assault. The department said the convict faces up to 120 years in prison.
Prosecutors Ramsés J. Aguayo Hiraldo and Félix Sánchez Pizarro of the Fajardo prosecutor’s office presented three witnesses to the killing, five Puerto Rico Police officers including the investigating agent, and the victim’s mother during the October 26 to 29 trial, plus a firearms examiner and results from the Institute of Forensic Sciences. The facts occurred on February 26 in Ceiba: after learning his ex-partner had decided to end the relationship and that a protective order would be sought against him, Hernández Ventura went to where Ortiz Peña worked, slapped him, shot him several times, reloaded and fired again while he was on the pavement, then fled.
Agent Luz M. Sánchez Torres, of the Fajardo Criminal Investigations Corps Homicide Division, led the investigation.