The long-awaited trial of a 20-year-old accused of fatally shooting a man at an RTA bus stop on Public Square is scheduled to begin Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Authorities identified the defendant as Maurice Thompson and say the shooting left 36-year-old Juan Rampon Ruiz Lopez dead. Thompson has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts connected to the case.
What prosecutors allege
Cuyahoga County prosecutors say Thompson opened fire after he and Lopez were seated next to each other at the Public Square bus stop, then ran off on foot, according to Cleveland 19. The indictment charges him with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery and robbery, and prosecutors say the shooting happened in the early hours of March 22, 2024. Prosecutor Michael O’Malley told reporters that a short time later the suspect allegedly carjacked a 31-year-old man near Euclid Avenue.
The victim and the scene
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 36-year-old Juan Rampon Ruiz Lopez, who was found with multiple gunshot wounds at a downtown bus stop and later taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died, according to News 5 Cleveland. Emergency crews responded to the corner of East Roadway and Superior Avenue shortly before 1 a.m., the outlet reported. Police said the vehicle alleged to have been taken during the related carjacking was later recovered as detectives continued their investigation.
Arrest and case history
Police took Thompson into custody on May 13, 2024, and he was arraigned later that month, with a judge setting bond at $1 million, according to an earlier Cleveland 19 report. Since then, the case has gone through multiple scheduling changes and pretrial motions, with continuances pushing the start of trial into 2026. Thompson remains jailed while this prosecution moves forward.
Downtown safety and context
The killing is one of several high-profile incidents that have kept downtown safety under scrutiny, including shootings at or near Public Square last year, as noted by News 5 Cleveland. Business owners and residents say violence at transit hubs heightens concern about late-night safety and fuels calls for clearer patrol plans. Many observers will be watching whether testimony and evidence at trial shed light on motive and the circumstances that led up to the shooting.
Legal implications
Thompson faces aggravated murder and related felonies, charges that Ohio law treats as among the most serious. Aggravated murder is defined in the Ohio Revised Code at R.C. 2903.01 and carries the harshest penalties available under state law. The court will have to decide what, if anything, the state can prove beyond a reasonable doubt and whether any sentencing specifications apply. Thompson has pleaded not guilty and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a jury returns a guilty verdict.
How to follow the case
Readers who want to track filings or the daily docket can use the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts public resources and case-docket pages. The Justice Center houses the Common Pleas clerk's offices and posts hearing schedules, and the county provides online docket search tools for public cases. Journalists planning to cover the trial are advised to check the court's daily calendar for room assignments and any rules about courtroom access.
