Man Shoots Father-In-Law In ‘Cold-Blooded Killing,’ Dumps His Body In Palmetto: Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A Bradenton man is in custody after fatally shooting his father-in-law Tuesday night, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said during a news conference Wednesday. His exact charges have yet to be released.

Around 8 p.m., 29-year-old Rubin Gutierrez Pioquinto, his father-in-law and the victim’s 15-year-old stepson, who witnessed the shooting, went out for a drive. The victim’s name is being withheld under Marsy’s Law, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The suspect and victim had been arguing throughout the day, Wells said, adding that the agency “still doesn’t know what the extent of those arguments are all about.”

They continued to argue during the drive, and the suspect shot the victim in their truck while they were at the Circle K at 904 30th Ave. E. in Bradenton, the sheriff’s office said.

Pioquinto shot his father-in-law at “point-blank range,” Wells said. “Cold-blood killing right in front of this juvenile witness.”

After he dumped the body in a remote area of Palmetto, on the side of the road at 214 77th Street E., he and the 15-year-old went home. The suspect, the teen, the victim and other family members lived together in a house on 21st Avenue W. in Bradenton.

Before passing out on the couch, Pioquinto threatened to kill the 15-year-old boy if he told anybody about the shooting.

Several hours later, family members, wondering where the victim was, woke up the teen, Wells said. “He, then, is distraught and obviously gives them the whole story of what took place.”

Around 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday, the family called 911. Law enforcement, including the MCSO SWAT team, responded to the home.

The family was able to safely leave the house with the suspect still inside. After several commands to leave the house and no response, Pioquinto eventually came outside and was taken into custody, the sheriff said.

Though the 15-year-old didn’t know the exact location of his stepfather’s body, he provided enough information for the sheriff’s office to find it, Wells said. The murder weapon has also been recovered.

The shooting’s motive isn’t known yet, though investigators believe Piaquinto had been drinking, Wells said. He has no prior arrests.

“This is just another senseless, cold-blooded killing,” the sheriff said. “My heart really goes out to this family and also to this young witness, who was sitting in the car when this took place. I know he has to be traumatized.”