Ricardo Rivera | Homicide Watch Chicago

Gabriel Guardiola sentenced to 55 years in prison for murder of Ricardo Rivera

Michael Lansu — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 09:00:59 -0500

Gabriel Guardiola / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Gabriel Guardiola was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison Monday for the murder of a friend who refused to get into a car with him after a night of partying.

Guardiola, 38, had been convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Cicero resident Ricardo Rivera on Feb. 24, 2013. On Monday, Judge Joseph M. Claps sentenced him to 55 years in prison, according to court records.

He will receive credit for more than two years spent behind bars while awaiting trail, according to court records.

Prosecutors said the pair belonged to the same motorcycle club, and Guardiola had picked up Rivera hours earlier so they could go to a strip club.

After leaving the club, Guardiola got into his car as Rivera walked ahead down the street, prosecutors said.

Guardiola told his friend to get into his car, and eventually called a mutual friend where he said what he would do to Rivera if Rivera kept walking along Cicero Avenue, prosecutors said.

Rivera, 31, called the same friend before walking to a parking lot in the 100 block of South Cicero Avenue, where Guardiola got out of his car, shot Rivera in the head and drove away, prosecutors said.

Rivera, of the 4900 block of West 23rd Place in Cicero, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Surveillance cameras captured Guardiola firing the weapon, prosecutors said.

Ricardo Rivera

Police allegedly found a gun in Guardiola’s residence in the 1500 block of North Monticello Avenue and gunshot residue on his clothing, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, Guardiola was a married father of six and worked as a custodian at Lane Tech College Prep, according to a public defender.

Gabriel Guardiola convicted of murder for shooting friend who refused to get into car outside strip club

Michael Lansu — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:22:49 -0600

Gabriel Guardiola / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Gabriel Guardiola was convicted of murder Friday for shooting a friend who refused to get into his car after a night at a strip club.

Guardiola, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday for the shooting that killed Cicero resident Ricardo Rivera early Feb. 24, 2013 according to court records.

Prosecutors said the pair belonged to the same motorcycle club, and Guardiola had picked up Rivera hours earlier so they could go to a strip club.

After leaving the club, Guardiola got into his car as Rivera walked ahead down the street, prosecutors said.

Guardiola told his friend to get into his car, and eventually called a mutual friend where he said what he would do to Rivera if Rivera kept walking along Cicero Avenue, prosecutors said.

Rivera, of the 4900 block of West 23rd Place in Cicero, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Surveillance cameras captured Guardiola firing the weapon, prosecutors said.

Ricardo Rivera

Police allegedly found a gun in Guardiola’s residence in the 1500 block of North Monticello Avenue and gunshot residue on his clothing, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, Guardiola was a married father of six and worked as a custodian at Lane Tech College Prep, according to a public defender.

He was convicted following a week-long jury trial, and will next appear in court March 16, court records show.

A mother and father remember their son

John Carpenter — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:58:13 -0500

Ricardo Rivera, 31, was murdered February 24, 2013. His parents still miss him every day. Juan, his father, is particularly emotional watching the Blackhawks fight for the Stanley Cup. Ricky, a big Hawks fan, and was teaching his father the game of hockey.

Father remembers slain son: "Our hearts are broken."

John Carpenter — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:28:48 -0500

Juan Rivera provided this remembrance of his son, who was murdered earlier this year.

Ricardo Rivera was born October 12, 1981, and died Feb. 24, 2013. He was a graduate of Chase Elementary School, and Roberto Clemente High School, and he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Westwood University. Ricky was a smart young man who wanted a career in law enforcement. He loved sports, and became a huge fan of the Chicago Blackhawks. He actually predicted they would go to the championship series this season! He was learning the game of hockey, and teaching it to me as we watched the games early in the season. The same was true when we watched Bulls and Bears games.

Ricky liked helping people. He did charity work for the Speed Rascal Motorcycles Club, of which he was a member. He was working toward getting himself a bike.

He knew a lot of people. Most of them came to his funeral, along with his family. They showed up to pay their respects, and see him one more time, on March 2, 2013. Young and old came out, offered contributions to the family, and shed a few tears.

When our family got our first house last October, Ricky was happy because he wanted to be close to us, and to help with repairs. Mostly he wanted to have a place to stay permanently. We were homeless for several months before that.

We miss our son so much.

Ricardo was cremated, and his ashes are home in a room we created in his honor.

Ricky is gone, but not forgotten.

Our hearts are broken.

Killer allegedly angry friend wouldn't get in car with him

John Carpenter — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:58:13 -0500

Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Author/Byline: RUMMANA HUSSAIN ; Criminal Courts

A married father of six allegedly murdered his friend because he wouldn’t get inside a car after a night of revelry on the West Side.
Gabriel Guardiola even called a mutual friend and left a voicemail declaring what he intended to do to Ricardo Rivera as Rivera walked along the Cicero Avenue early Sunday morning, Cook County prosecutors said.

Rivera called that friend too before proceeding to a parking lot where Guardiola got out of his Dodge Charger and shot Rivera , 31, in the head before driving away, in the 100 block of South Cicero, assistant state’s attorney Stephanie Buck said.

Guardiola, who appeared in court with a Batman shirt Tuesday, was caught firing his weapon on surveillance cameras just moments before he made the ominous phone call, Buck said.

Hours earlier, Guardiola, 36, had picked up Rivera so the pair, who belonged on the same motorcycle club, could go to a strip club, Buck said. After leaving the club, Guardiola, who is nicknamed “Sixto,” got in his car and Rivera walked ahead on the street, apparently irking Guardiola who loudly ordered his pal to get in the Charger, authorities said.

Police allegedly found a gun in Guardiola residence, in the 1500 block of North Monticello. There also was gunshot residue on in Guardiola’s clothing, Buck said.

Guardiola, a custodian for United Building Maintenance, is married and has six children, defense attorney Edward Austin said.

According to a police report, Guardiola is assigned as a custodian at Lane Tech College Prep.

A UBM official said that the company cannot verify employment over the phone and would need the employee’s signature to release any information.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Guardiola held without bail Tuesday.

Cicero man killed one West Side

John Carpenter — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:55:50 -0500

Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Monday, February 25, 2013

Author/Byline: BY ALLISON HORTON ; Staff Reporter

Ricardo Rivera , 31, of the 4900 block of West 23rd Place in Cicero, was fatally shot in the head at 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of South Cicero, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:35 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.