⏱ 2 min read
Fernando Bahena Ruiz, a 28-year-old Mexican citizen living illegally in Danville, Virginia, sparked a 911 call on March 25, 2026, when multiple people reported gunfire in a neighborhood. Witnesses saw muzzle flashes coming from Bahena Ruiz’s backyard, and when officers arrived, they found him carrying a gun before he retreated back into his house. The reason behind the gunfire remains unclear, but the consequences for Bahena Ruiz are now unfolding.
When officers took Bahena Ruiz into custody, they executed a search warrant on his house, uncovering a handgun, magazines, ammunition, and fraudulent immigration documents, including a fake green card and Social Security card. The search also turned up at least 71 spent shell casings on Bahena Ruiz’s back porch and peyote plants containing mescaline, a Schedule I controlled substance, in his basement.
Bahena Ruiz has pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal and to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon and alien in the country. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Danville Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman prosecuting the case.
The guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, which was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. As the case moves forward, the outcome for Bahena Ruiz will be determined, but for now, he faces the consequences of his actions on that day in March.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime