Special circumstance allegations have been filed against Luis Alberto Ruiz that say he killed two people in separate shootings in Chula Vista and Palm City “to benefit a criminal street gang.”
A Feb. 29, 2016, preliminary hearing has been set for Ruiz, 27, of Chula Vista, who is charged with killing Roberto Soria, 25, and Luaiza Burgos-De La Torre, 24, also known as Pamela Burgos.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Williams said no decision has been made whether to seek the death penalty or a life term in prison without parole. Usually death penalty decisions occur after the preliminary hearing.
Ruiz is an alleged documented gang member, according to Chula Vista Superior Court records. He has denied the charges and allegations in his not guilty plea.
Soria was shot at 11 p.m. on July 9 while walking with a friend in the 2600 block of Gould Lane in the Palm City neighborhood. Soria’s friend, 22, was also wounded, and Ruiz is charged with attempted murder in that shooting.
Ruiz is also charged with murder during a robbery in Soria’s death as well as to benefit a street gang. It occurred outside a house party.
About an hour later, Burgos was shot while walking with a male companion in the 300 block of Quintard Avenue in Chula Vista.
The companion was not injured. That killing was also alleged to benefit a street gang.
Ruiz was already in jail on another matter when authorities filed the murder charges against him on Sept. 11. A discovery hearing was set for Jan. 7. Court records say he was convicted of assault in 2010 and grand theft in 2007.
