Murder Trial Opens in Yonkers for Teenager in Pickup Truck Shooting
Yonkers, NY – The murder trial of a Yonkers teenager accused of fatally shooting a man in a pickup truck last year began this week, with prosecutors and the defense presenting their opening statements. The case centers on the death of Francisco Gordillo and the charges against 19-year-old Ludvin Ramos Cervantes.
Assistant District Attorney Leigh Wellington told the jury that Cervantes shot Gordillo after feeling disrespected. However, defense attorney Lynda Visco argued that the prosecution would struggle to prove Cervantes intended to kill Gordillo, suggesting the shooting was a tragic accident.
Cervantes faces charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted of murder, he could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The trial is being heard by Westchester County Judge Maurice Dean Williams and is expected to last about a week.
The Night of the Shooting
The events leading to the shooting occurred on February 25, 2024. Cervantes and a friend met Gordillo, age 51, and another man at a bar. After the bar closed, the group went to another establishment. They ended up in Gordillo’s pickup truck, dropping off Cervantes’ friend before heading to Cervantes’ building on Willow Street and Mount Carmel Place around 4:30 a.m.
According to the prosecution, Cervantes had been boasting about being in a gang. Gordillo, however, dismissed his claims. Wellington stated that Gordillo told Cervantes he was “nothing.” Moments later, Cervantes returned to the truck, armed with a .45 semi-automatic.
Wellington said Cervantes put his arm around Gordillo’s neck and pointed the gun at his head. Gordillo allegedly told the teen to, “If you’re a real man, pull the trigger.” Cervantes then allegedly racked the gun and fired, striking Gordillo in the head.
“The gun fired after this defendant made the decision to pull the trigger,” Wellington said, adding that death became the “natural and probable consequence” of aiming and firing a loaded gun at someone’s head.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
After the shooting, the pickup truck continued down Willow Street and hit another car. The owner of that car called 911, and police arrived to find Gordillo dead in the front seat. Cervantes was still at the scene and gave conflicting accounts of what happened. Initially, he claimed Gordillo had shot himself. He then said it was Gordillo’s gun, but it had gone off accidentally. He later admitted the gun belonged to him for weeks and that he’d aimed it at Gordillo’s head.
Prosecutors argue that Cervantes’ changing story reveals a consciousness of guilt. Defense attorney Visco countered that Cervantes was scared, shocked, nervous, and confused, and that his “fear and anxiety” caused errors in judgment as he described the events to police.
