CLEVELAND — Martin Muniz, the man accused of killing four people and wounding an 8-year-old girl in a Cleveland shooting in 2023, pleaded guilty on Thursday and will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew Santoli sentenced Muniz to four consecutive life sentences in prison without parole after the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated murder and one court of attempted aggravated murder. Each of the charges carried gun specifications.
“Martin Muniz is a vicious mass murderer,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley. “Anyone who can murder four family members deserves to be removed from society for the rest of their life. I pray the 8-year-old young girl who survived this horrible violence can recover.”
The case against Muniz dates back to Jan. 13, 2023, when he flagged down members of the Cleveland Division of Police and told officers he shot and killed five people at a residence in the 3700 block of Mack Court.
Those who were killed in the shooting were identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner as 69-year-old Miguel Gonzalez, 48-year-old Anthony Boothe, 34-year-old Angelic Gonzalez and her son, 16-year-old Jayden Baez.
Muniz, who was detained at the scene, was identified as the stepson of Miguel Gonzalez and the brother of Angelic Gonzalez, both killed in the shooting.
While three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Boothe was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he later died. Meanwhile, Boothe’s daughter, an 8-year-old girl, was also hospitalized and was treated for her injuries.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office says Muniz is also a suspect in a New Jersey homicide.
Prior to his plea deal, Muniz had been facing the following charges:
- Four counts of aggravated murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- Eight counts of murder
- Ten counts of felonious assault
- One count of having weapons under disability
Prosecutors add that Muniz will face an additional 15 years in gun specification to be served prior to and consecutive to the life sentences. In addition, he was sentenced to 11 to 16.5 years in prison to be served consecutively to the life sentences.
3News' Ryan Haidet contributed to this report
Previous Reporting:
- Man accused of killing 4 in Cleveland shooting due back in court this week
- 'She's doing a whole lot better. It's going to be some time" | 8-year-old recovering after four family members killed in Cleveland
- Suspect accused of killing 4 in Cleveland shooting indicted
- $5 million bond set for suspect accused of killing 4 in Cleveland shooting
