Abel Ruiz gets 51 years for shooting Brandon Cage over gang affiliation in 2013

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:07:00 -0500

By LEEANN SHELTON
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A Latin Kings street gang member has been sentenced to 51 years in prison for fatally shooting Brandon Cage after demanding he renounce his own gang in the summer of 2013.

Abel Ruiz, 23, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder on May 21 after a four-day trial before Judge Vincent Gaughan, court records show.

Prosecutors accused Ruiz of fatally shooting Cage about 1:30 a.m. June 12, 2013, in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Ruiz was riding in a car with fellow Latin Kings when he instructed the driver to stop in the 3300 block of West 60th Street, according to court records.

Abel Ruiz | Cook County sheriff's office

Pulling a handgun out of his waistband, Ruiz approached several people in a parked car, stuck the gun against the driver’s head and demanded he “throw down the fork” to show allegiance to Ruiz’ gang, prosecutors said. The driver of the car, who was waiting for Cage, complied.

When Cage walked up moments later Ruiz made the same request, prosecutors said. Cage declined, and said he was a member of the Gangster Disciples. Ruiz then raised the gun and shot him three times in the chest, according to police and prosecutors.

Cage, who was in his 30s, died at 3 a.m. that morning at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said.

Ruiz fled the scene after the shooting, but the driver of the car that stayed behind called police and provided a description of Ruiz and the getaway car, prosecutors said.

Ruiz was arrested during a traffic stop a short while later, prosecutors said. He was Tasered while in police custody after he trying to kick out the windows of a police car, prosecutors said.

While in police custody, Ruiz, of the 3600 block of West 57th Street, told some of the others in the lockup that he had just shot a man, prosecutors said.

Ruiz was sentenced to a total of 51 years in prison Wednesday, according to court records. He was given credit for more than two years spent in Cook County Jail since his arrest.

Man shot to death for not renouncing gang affiliation

John Carpenter — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:38:48 -0500

Abel Ruiz

Latin Kings street gang member Abel Ruiz shot and killed a rival gang member this week after demanding the man renounce his own gang and “throw down the fork,” prosecutors said.

The man he murdered, Brandon Cage, was shot in a Chicago Lawn street early Wednesday after he declined to do so, authorities said.

On Friday, the 21-year-old Ruiz appeared in Cook County court facing a charge of first-degree murder for Cage’s death, and was ordered him held without bond, according to prosecutors.

About 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Ruiz was riding in a car with fellow Latin Kings when he instructed the driver to stop in the 3300 block of West 60th Street, according to court records.

When Cage walked up moments later Ruiz made the same request, prosecutors said. Cage declined, professing to be a member of the Gangster Disciples. Ruiz then raised the gun and shot him three times in the chest, according to police and prosecutors.

Cage, whose age and address are not known, was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. An autopsy showed he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Ruiz fled the scene after the shooting, but the driver of the car that stayed behind called police and provided a description of Ruiz and the getaway car, prosecutors said.

Ruiz was arrested during a traffic stop a short while later, prosecutors said. He was Tasered while in police custody after he tried to kick out the windows of a police car, prosecutors said.

While in police custody, Ruiz, of the 3600 block of West 57th Street, told some of the others in the lockup that he had just shot a man, prosecutors said.

- Sun-Times Media Wire

Abel Ruiz | Homicide Watch Chicago

Abel Ruiz gets 51 years for shooting Brandon Cage over gang affiliation in 2013

Man shot to death for not renouncing gang affiliation