32-year-old man, who threatened a 15-year-old boy that he would kill him right after shooting his stepfather in the head if he told anyone about what happened, was sentenced
Florida – In a harrowing incident that has left a Florida family forever changed, a 32-year-old man, identified as R. Pioquinto, was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for second-degree murder. The tragic event unfolded in January 2022, when Pioquinto shot his 33-year-old father-in-law, identified as A. Rivera, 33, in cold blood, in the presence of a terrified 15-year-old boy.
The police department began investigating the disturbing incident after Rivera’s family reported him missing and possibly murdered on January 19, 2022. The critical break in the case came from Rivera’s stepson, a brave 15-year-old who witnessed the horrifying act firsthand. According to the teenager’s chilling testimony, Pioquinto was driving a vehicle with Rivera sitting in the passenger seat and the teen in the back. As the night progressed, tensions escalated dramatically.
Pioquinto initially fired shots into the air from the moving car, subsequently pointing his gun at an unidentified man outside the vehicle, alarming the young witness. The violence rapidly intensified when Pioquinto turned the gun towards Rivera, placed it against his head, and asked him a terrifying question: “Are you afraid of dying?” With Rivera courageously responding “no,” Pioquinto pulled the trigger, fatally shooting him at point-blank range. Following the shooting, the situation became even more horrifying. Pioquinto drove to a bridge, where he stopped the vehicle and ordered the traumatized boy to remove Rivera’s body from the car and leave it on the side of the road.
Adding to the teenager’s terror, Pioquinto pointed the gun directly at him, explicitly threatening to kill him if he dared to tell anyone about the incident. As they drove away from the scene, Pioquinto further abused the boy by slapping him and attempting to bite him. Arriving home, the violent man forced the boy to lie on the couch under his watchful eye. Exhausted and traumatized, the teenager eventually fell asleep. The following morning, when questioned by a family member about Rivera’s whereabouts, the boy finally found the courage to disclose the traumatic events from the night before.
The evidence presented during a rigorous four-day trial in November convinced the jury of Pioquinto’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They convicted him of second-degree murder, recognizing the calculated cruelty of his actions. On Friday, the court handed down a life sentence, ensuring that Pioquinto will spend the rest of his life behind bars. This resolution has brought a semblance of justice to Rivera’s grieving family, though it cannot undo the emotional and psychological scars inflicted upon the brave young witness, nor bring back the life tragically stolen. The devastating incident highlights the lasting repercussions of domestic violence and underscores the importance of community vigilance and support for survivors, particularly children who endure unimaginable trauma.
