Man sentenced to 12 years in connection to 2021 double murder outside Parma bar
CLEVELAND, Ohio October 20 2022 One of the two brothers convicted in connection to the 2021 deadly shooting outside of a Parma bar was sentenced on Tuesday morning
The Cuyahoga County judge delivered a 12-year sentence to Luis Candelario, who previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Parma police said the 31-year-old suspect drove the getaway vehicle from the scene of the fatal shooting.
Candelario’s brother, Juan Perez, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, attempted murder and having weapons while under disability.
Investigators said Perez was the gunman in the March 2021 shooting outside Rookies Sports Bar and Grill that killed security guard Timoteo Cruz and customer Sean Acierno on March 13, 2021
Candelerio says he and his brother were reconnecting after 10 years. After a heated exchange at the bar, Perez who was recently released from prison, walked to the backseat of Candelario’s car and used Candelario’s loaded gun to shoot.
Cruz, who was an off-duty Cuyahoga County corrections officer at the time he was shot, returned fire after Acierno was shot, striking Perez, according to officials.
“I had nothing to do with it and I tried to stop everything from inside of the bar” said Candelario. “It went from going well, to a living hell in the blink of an eye”
Prosecutors said video show Candelario opening his car door for his brother. Although he did not pull the trigger, family still believe he should be held responsible.
“6 months ago, I couldn’t even get out of bed because I could think of a way to get on” said Kelly McNamara, Acierno’s mother.
McNamara said her son went to bar for just a couple drinks and planned to go grocery shopping together the next day.
Cruz’s sister said she was with her brother moments before he was murdered.
“To wake up and for him to be gone was traumatizing. To know I stood feet away from Luis and his brother for an hour before they took my brother’s life, that will be unforgiveable” said Cruz’s sister.
WOIO
