SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man convicted of killing his cousin in an accidental shooting while passing around guns and drinking alcohol was sentenced to three years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's offie.
In December, Ruiz, Jr. entered a guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 24-year-old Anthony Martinez.
Witnesses said several people were drinking beer in the backyard of a home in June of 2018 when Ruiz pulled a handgun out of a bag of guns, according to police. He took out the gun’s magazine and racked back the slide on the pistol before giving it to Martinez.
The witnesses said Ruiz then grabbed a second weapon from the bag and removed the magazine. But the gun went off when Ruiz pulled back the slide.
Martinez died about eights hours later at a hospital, after telling officers that Ruiz shot him while passing around guns.
Prosecutors argued Ruiz was acting recklessly when he mixed alcohol with firearms.