FL Man Who Shot, Killed Father-In-Law Convicted: State Attorney

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A man who shot and killed his father-in-law nearly three years ago in Manatee County was convicted of murder in the second degree with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm after a jury trial.

The trial was held Nov. 18 to 21 at the Manatee County Courthouse, according to a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.

Ruben Pioquinto faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison with a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years before bars, the state attorney said. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

Pioquinto was driving with his father-in-law, Anderson Guerra Rivera, in the front passenger seat and his 15-year-old brother-in-law in the rear passenger seat, on Jan. 18, 2022.

While stopped at a red light, Pioquinto pointed a handgun at Guerra Rivera’s head and asked him if he was afraid of dying, Brodsky’s office said.

After his father-in-law said, “no,” Pioquinto pressed the gun against Guerra Rivera’s left temple and pulled the trigger. The man died within minutes.

Pioquinto drove to a secluded area in Palmetto where he forced the 15-year-old boy to remove Guerra Rivera’s body from the vehicle and leave it there.

He threatened the teen with the gun for more than an hour after they dumped the body and told the boy “that if he told anyone what happened, (Pioquinto) would kill his family,” the state attorney’s office said.