PANAMA CITY BEACH — A local teenager may spend the rest of his life in prison for the first-degree murder and attempted robbery of a Panama City beach man.
According to a press release from the 14th Circuit Prosecutor’s Office, Abel Ortiz, 19, of Panama City, was sentenced Tuesday to serve two life sentences.
Ortiz was convicted Sept. 22 of participating in the 2019 killing of 30-year-old Edward Ross of Panama City Beach.
“He was one of 3 armed men who broke into Ross’ home on December 29, armed and looking to rob the victim,” he said. “Instead, all 3 shot (Ross), with (Ortiz) firing seven times and hitting (Ross) with 3 bullets, adding one last shot from behind. “
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The state attorney’s office workplace says Ortiz was armed with an Array22-caliber handgun.
The two co-defendants admitted their role in the murder, pleaded guilty and testified against Ortiz. Evidence showed his scheme to steal borrowed money and marijuana from Ross. It also showed that the three men fired 11 shots, seven of which came from Ortiz.
After the shooting, Ortiz and the two ran toward the waiting cars and fled. It took investigators from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office about six weeks to resolve the case.
Testimony showed Ortiz told an instructor he killed a man in Panama City Beach before his arrest in February 2020. He also confessed to a witness, as well as to OCSO investigators.
“Among accomplices and shooters, (Ortiz) is the ultimate vicious,” Bay County Chief Prosecutor Mark Graham said in the statement. “The defendant deserves the same mercy he showed Edward Ross that night when he leaned over the couch and shot him in the back as he lay helpless on the floor. “
Because Ortiz was a minor at the time of the crime, he will be eligible for a sentence review after 25 years, meaning his sentence can be reduced at that time.
Said Ortiz has a long history of criminals, with thirteen arrests prior to Ross’ murder. Since his arrest in 2020 and upon turning 18, he has faced 15 disciplinary moves at the Bay County Jail.
“(Ortiz) continues to demonstrate that he complies with regulations and/or guidelines,” Graham said in the statement. possibility of being rehabilitated. “