The Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday that a man has been sentenced to 42 years in prison for fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend at her workplace in April 2023.
Gerardo Vazquez Alvarez, 30, shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Maria Ledesma Ramirez, 25, and wounded another employee at a Burger King in south Phoenix after an argument over their relationship and children that took place over the phone.
On the day of the incident, Phoenix police responded to a report of a shooting and found Ramirez and her underage colleague suffering from gunshot wounds.
Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene, while her colleague was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.
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In a statement released by the prosecutor’s office, witnesses said Alvarez arrived at the restaurant, ordered food and waited for his ex-girlfriend to walk up to the counter before shooting her.
“Not only did a young mother lose her life that night, but several young people were placed in danger and will have to live with the trauma of what they saw and heard as a result of the defendant’s callous actions,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel . Mitchell said in a statement. “By committing this offense he changed many lives, but especially those of his own young children.”
Alvarez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and disturbing the peace.
In the statement, the prosecution said Ramirez’s parents told the court: “She was an exemplary mother… she protected her children so well because they were her greatest treasure, but now she has left such a big void in us.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man gets 42 years in prison for shooting ex-girlfriend
