Ruben Guanipa Ramirez, 26, a Venezuelan national, was indicted in Suffolk County on an attempted murder charge after prosecutors said he stabbed an acquaintance on Gilgo Beach in late February. Authorities said the two had played pool earlier that night before driving to the remote Long Island beach, where the victim fought back and escaped.
Suffolk County prosecutors say Ruben Guanipa Ramirez picked up the victim at his home in Queens on Feb. 28 and drove to Baldwin, where the two played pool at Sport Billiard Pool Hall.
Investigators say the pair then drove to Jones Beach and continued east to Gilgo Beach. As they walked back toward the vehicle, prosecutors allege Ramirez attacked the man from behind and stabbed him multiple times. Authorities say the victim struggled with his attacker, took control of the knife, and fled.
Prosecutors said the victim drove away and later contacted police and emergency responders. Ramirez was arrested later that same day after he was found walking along the Long Island Expressway in Nassau County, according to an account of the case published by LongIsland.com.
Authorities said a search of Ramirez’s vehicle turned up multiple knives and other items, including rope and duct tape.
“This defendant allegedly drove a man that he knew to a remote beach and attacked him from behind with a knife,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement announcing the indictment. “The evidence recovered from his vehicle raises serious questions about what he intended that night.”
Ramirez was arraigned on March 31 and is scheduled to return to court on April 29, prosecutors said. If convicted of the top charge, he faces a prison term of 5 to 25 years, according to the same report.
