A Lawrenceville man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after a deadly December shooting in Lilburn that killed two people and left a third seriously injured.
On Tuesday, a judge sentenced 55-year-old Javier Aragon Ruiz to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 years. Prosecutors said the punishment means Ruiz will be in prison until he is well into his 80s, even if he is ever considered for parole.
What Happened
According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, the violence unfolded on Dec. 5, 2025, when an argument inside a car escalated into gunfire. Officers responding to the scene near Harbins Road and Harbins Point Lane in Lilburn found two people shot inside a vehicle.
The victims were later identified as 17-year-old Jesua Valesca Garcia Perez and 28-year-old Javier Hernandez Martinez. An earlier local account of the manhunt and arrest, suspect in custody, detailed how the case quickly spread beyond Gwinnett County.
Arrest and Custody
Investigators tracked Ruiz to Tennessee, where state troopers found his vehicle and took him into custody in Robertson County, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He was held there while Georgia authorities prepared their case.
Charges and Sentence
According to CBS News Atlanta, Ruiz pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated assault, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and one count of possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.
After the plea, the judge handed down life in prison with the possibility of parole plus 10 years. District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said, “We hope that this outcome brings the families some solace and justice.”
Gwinnett County police say the motive remains under investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact detectives or Crime Stoppers. Local coverage, including reporting from FOX 5 Atlanta, has highlighted how multiple agencies, including Tennessee troopers, worked together to track down Ruiz after the shootings.
