KEY POINTS

  • Ruiz, 28, was sentenced to 3 years in prison
  • He accidentally shot his cousin, Martinez, 24
  • Ruiz was showing off his guns at a drinking party
  • He was charged with involuntary manslaughter

A Wichita resident was sentenced to three years in jail after her accidentally shot and killed his cousin while he was showing off his guns.

Martin David Ruiz Jr., 28, was sentenced on Wednesday for involuntary manslaughter in the death of his cousin, Anthony Martinez, 24, on June 30, 2018, the Washington Times reported.

According to prosecutors, several people were drinking alcohol in the backyard of a house in Wichita when Ruiz removed the magazine of a handgun he took from a bag of firearms, racked back the slide and handed it to Martinez.

Ruiz took another gun from the bag and did the same but the gun went off and hit Martinez who died later at a Wichita hospital.

Prosecutors said that Ruiz acted recklessly.

guns
Representational Image of Confiscated guns seen during a news conference about a gun bust at New York City Police (NYPD) Headquarters in New York, U.S., May 24, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid