DOB: 02/13/2007

Case Number: 2024-0192-CF

Young Guns Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison

PALATKA – During a hearing on Wednesday, Young Guns defendant Ramon Gomez-Hernandez Jr. was sentenced to life in prison. As a juvenile offender, his sentence will be up for review in 25 years.

A Putnam County jury found the defendant guilty as charged in April of First-Degree Murder (Firearm), two counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder (Firearm), Aggravated Assault (Firearm) and Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent.

On June 30, 2023, Gomez-Hernandez, who was only 16 years old at the time, drove up to a planned fight on Kane Road in Palatka and shot three people. One of the victims died while being rushed by a witness to the hospital. The two other victims were seriously injured and are still dealing with long-term effects.

The vehicle the defendant drove to the scene crashed and was left behind. When detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle, they found a cell phone belonging to Gomez-Hernandez, a black ski mask and a handgun with ammunition still in it, which matched the cartridge casings found at the scene.

Forensic evidence was also recovered from the vehicle. Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab results show DNA from the steering wheel, handgun and ski mask matched the defendant’s DNA profile.

“A 16-year-old made a murderous decision and now reaps the consequences,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “Luckily, the other two shooting victims survived. There is no justification for this crime – only contempt bathed in grief.”

The case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Chief of Homicide Jason Lewis and Assistant State Attorney Alexander Gilewicz successfully prosecuted the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Alicia Washington heard the case and imposed sentence.