Jury convicts self-proclaimed ‘patriot’ in Gwinnett County murder case

Article

Jorge Alberto Ramirez (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Georgia. – A man who called himself a “patriot” was found guilty by a Gwinnett County jury in the April 2021 shooting death of 23-year-old Pedro Lopez-Belloso.

Jorge Alberto Ramirez, 35, was found guilty on several counts, including triple murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a weapon during the commission of a serious crime.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment plus five years.

“This was a cruel and violent death,” said District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “We mourn with Mr. Lopez-Belloso's family and loved ones. By prosecuting this death, we send the message that no one has the right to determine who deserves to die.”

Ramirez told police he was driving in the back seat of an SUV on Jimmy Carter Boulevard on April 14, 2021, when he became nervous because Lopez-Belloso, who was in the passenger seat, was armed. He claimed he loaded an AR-15 rifle in the back seat because he had a “funny feeling” about the others in the vehicle. According to Ramirez, the rifle accidentally fired, hitting Lopez-Belloso in the back of the head.

However, evidence presented at trial contradicted Ramirez's testimony. Prosecutors argued that Ramirez shot Lopez-Belloso intentionally, pointing to a statement he made to the SUV's driver: “I don't give a shit… There will be no feelings of jealousy, envy or hatred.” Additionally, when arrested by Gwinnett County police, Ramirez was recorded saying he shot Lopez-Belloso because the “immigrant wants to envy, hate and be jealous of an American citizen of the United States of America.” Ramirez added: “…Our oath is, when you put our patriots on trial, our patriots will respond with the almighty accuracy and definition of a solution… It's simple, brother. I don't give a shit if there are no murders, I don't give a shit if there are no kidnappings. I don't give a shit about anything…”

Ramirez later changed his story, telling prosecutors in March 2022 that he was sleeping in the back seat of the SUV when the rifle lying next to him fell and accidentally went off. However, an analysis by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations concluded that the weapon could not have accidentally misfired and a human would have had to have pulled the trigger.