An 18-year-old Wisconsin woman is facing homicide charges after police say she fatally shot a 44-year-old mother during a road rage incident in Milwaukee last month, authorities said.
Background
The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 in Milwaukee, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime. Police responded to calls about a shooting and found Minerva Hernandez-Lopez on the ground with two gunshot wounds. Bystanders who heard the gunshots attempted to help her, but despite their efforts and those of medical personnel, Hernandez-Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance video from the neighborhood captured the incident involving Hernandez-Lopez's tan GMC truck and a silver Nissan driven by Mariah Ruiz, 18, according to the complaint. The footage shows that after the GMC backed into the front bumper of the silver Nissan, Ruiz allegedly reached out of her car while holding an object and pointed it at the GMC.
Audio captured three gunshots followed by two more as the GMC tried to drive away. The Nissan then fled the scene with additional gunshots heard, according to investigators.
The Investigation
According to police, a 16-year-old boy who was in the silver Nissan with Ruiz told investigators they were on their way to the grocery store when Ruiz cut off Hernandez-Lopez's GMC truck. Hernandez-Lopez pulled up next to Ruiz and reportedly told her, "Little girl, you need to drive." Ruiz responded with profanities and allegedly pulled out a gun.
The boy told police that Hernandez-Lopez began recording Ruiz with her phone and started following her vehicle. The complaint states that Hernandez-Lopez got back in front of Ruiz's car and brake-checked her before the confrontation turned deadly, authorities said.
Ruiz reportedly turned herself in to police accompanied by family members. A search of her vehicle yielded the gun allegedly used in the killing, according to investigators. She allegedly admitted to the shooting and told police that the 16-year-old boy had told her not to shoot. Ruiz also told authorities she was having a bad day after an argument with her mother.
The Charges
Ruiz has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with Hernandez-Lopez's death, according to court records. She remains in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail on $100,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 28.
Key Takeaways
- Minerva Hernandez-Lopez, a mother of two boys, was shot and killed during an Aug. 17 road rage incident in Milwaukee
- Mariah Ruiz, 18, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide
- Surveillance video allegedly captured the shooting; authorities recovered the weapon from Ruiz's vehicle
- The confrontation began after Ruiz cut off Hernandez-Lopez, who called her "little girl" and told her to drive properly
- Ruiz reportedly admitted to police she was having a bad day after fighting with her mother before the shooting
What's Next
Ruiz is due back in court on Aug. 28 for preliminary proceedings. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to Hernandez-Lopez's death, authorities said.