Suspect Arrested in Ice Cream Man's Death

The person wanted in connection with a popular ice cream man’s Saturday death has been brought into custody in Hillsborough County.

According to the Bradenton Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and Manatee County Homicide Investigative Unit caught up with Juan Carlos Ramirez, 30, in northern Hillsborough County Wednesday.

Ramirez was wanted in connection with the Saturday death of Jose Luis Mendoza-Aguilar in the Manatee Trailer Park. Mendoza-Aguilar was an ice cream man who served residents in the area.

The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. Saturday. Police were called about shots fired and found Mendoza-Aguilar near the intersection of 6th Avenue East and 23rd Street East. Mendoza-Aguilar, police say, was struck several times with bullets and had facial lacerations. He died from his injuries late Saturday night.

An arrest warrant for Ramirez was issued earlier this week.

Police say Ramirez and Mendoza-Aguilar got into an argument and Ramirez pulled out a gun, firing several shots at the victim. Ramirez, police said, then walked over to Mendoza-Aguilar and “stomped on the victim’s face.”

Ramirez was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on second-degree murder charges Wednesday. He was being held without bond Thursday morning.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office