Jose Ricardo Ortiz III, a 26-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on February 13, 2017, in Gainesville, Florida. Ortiz, who was born on May 4, 1990, had lived in Gainesville his entire life. He graduated from Buchholz High School in 2008, where he was active in wrestling and lacrosse. After high school, he attended Santa Fe College and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.
At the time of his death, he was employed by Advance Auto Parts and was a member of the Queen of Peace Catholic Community.
The circumstances surrounding Ortiz's death were both shocking and tragic. On February 13, 2017, Katherine Jean Tonner, a 24-year-old woman, was arrested and charged with the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Jose Ricardo Ortiz III. According to police reports, Tonner fatally shot Ortiz in the head in her apartment at the Ridge complex located at 3801 SW 22nd Place in Gainesville. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, but it was reported that Tonner called 911 shortly after the incident, stating that she was suicidal and had shot a man who had been badgering her for money.
The investigation revealed that Ortiz had been living in Tonner's apartment despite their recent breakup. On the day of the incident, one of Tonner's roommates discovered Ortiz's body face down on the floor near Tonner's bed. The roommate reported hearing three loud bangs followed by a fire alarm. When he went to investigate, he found Ortiz's body and called 911. Tonner had already left the scene and driven to her parents' house, where she was later apprehended by the police.
Tonner was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder by an Alachua County grand jury. During the investigation, police found a loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in a kitchen drawer at Tonner's parents' home. Tonner made several spontaneous statements to the police, including admitting to shooting Ortiz in the head and expressing that she never meant to hurt anyone. The case garnered significant attention in the local community, as both Tonner and Ortiz had spent much of their lives in Gainesville.
The tragic death of Jose Ricardo Ortiz III left a profound impact on his family and friends. He is survived by his daughters, Kylee M. and Kenlee M. Epes and Sofia I. Fernandez, his parents, Jose and Lillian Ortiz, and his sisters, Elizabeth M. Otte and Kristina I. Ortiz. The community mourned the loss of a young man who had been an active and beloved member of their town.
