Man sentenced to 42 years in prison for fatal Burger King shooting in west Phoenix

PHOENIX (AZFamille) — A 30-year-old man was sentenced to 42 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend at a West Phoenix Burger King last year.

Maricopa County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell announced the sentencing of Gerardo Vazquez Alvarez on Tuesday.

The shooting took place at Burger King, at 19th Avenue and Buckeye Road, on April 12, 2023. Witnesses said Alvarez entered the restaurant, ordered food and waited for the victim to come to the counter. He then walked over to her and shot her, Mitchell said.

The victim was later identified as 25-year-old Maria Ledesma-Ramirez. A teenage colleague was also seriously injured in the shooting. Mitchell said that before this incident, Alvarez and Ledesma-Ramirez were arguing on the phone about their relationship and their children.

According to investigators, Álvarez confessed to the murder during an interview with detectives.

Court documents showed Alvarez claimed he went to the Burger King with a .40-caliber handgun, not intending to kill his ex-girlfriend, but proceeded to angry and started shooting.

Police said Alvarez also told them he did not intend to shoot Ledesma-Ramirez, but that she was “simply in his way.”

“Not only did a young mother lose her life that night, but several young people were also put in danger and will have to live with the trauma of what they saw and heard due to the senseless actions of the accused,” Mitchell said in a statement. . “By committing this crime, he changed many lives, but especially those of his own young children. »

Alvarez pleaded guilty April 11 to one count of second-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of disorderly conduct.

At sentencing, Ledesma-Ramirez's parents told the court: “She was an exemplary mother… she cared so much for her children because they were her greatest treasure, but now she has left a huge void in us . »

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call or text National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a news report? Send it's ours here with a brief description.

Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.