A Cape Coral teenager charged as an adult in the shooting deaths of two Lehigh Acres seniors at an intersection last year will spend nearly two decades behind bars.
Armando Cruz, 19, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. He was 17 at the time of the shooting.
Cruz pleaded guilty on July 31 to two counts of attempted second-degree murder; one count of shooting at, in or into a vehicle; one count of street robbery; one count of disturbing the peace; and one count of unlawful assembly. The court also ordered Cruz to pay $10,000 to the victims.
The shooting happened around 4 a.m. on March 19, when Robert Olswang, 76, and Janice Olswang, 70, became stuck in a large crowd at an intersection.
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According to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, the victims began their journey to Key West, towing their boat behind them.
As they approached the intersection of Milwaukee Boulevard and Homestead Road, a car club, which had gathered for a street race, blocked the intersection.
A crowd broke away from the larger group, surrounded the victims’ truck and boat, and began punching, hitting, and kicking the vehicle. Several suspects jumped onto the truck and boat.
Marceno said Cruz ran to the victims’ window and fired a gun, hitting them both. Robert Olswang was shot in the neck. Janice Olswang was shot in the chest and arm.
At least 15 other people were arrested in the following weeks in connection with the incident. None have been charged with attempted murder, except Cruz.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltranInstagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Teen who shot at Lehigh Acres seniors towing boat gets 17 years in prison
