Dalton security guard killer gets life sentence

Orlando Ramirez listens during his trial Tuesday. 
Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
Orlando Ramirez listens during his trial Tuesday. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
photo Orlando Ramirez

Orlando Ramirez, convicted of murdering one security guard and shooting another outside a Dalton, Ga., bar, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Superior Court Judge William T. Boyett sentenced Ramirez Friday afternoon to life without parole for the murder of Bruno Rodriguez and 30 years for the attempted murder of Daniel Maldonado-Florez.

Both men worked as bouncers at Dalton's Las Delicias Bar on East Main Street. On March 23, Ramirez tried to get inside, but Maldonado-Florez rejected him because he was only 20 years old at the time.

Ramirez pulled out a gun. Maldonado-Florez charged at him. They struggled for the weapon, security footage shows. Then Ramirez shot Maldonado-Florez. Then Rodriguez charged Ramirez.

Ramirez shot him, too, killing Rodriguez.

Conasauga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bert Poston said in a statement Friday that he was satisfied with Ramirez's life sentence.

"It was what we asked Judge Boyett to do," he said. "And given Ramirez' record, both as a juvenile and adult, and given the evidence presented at trial, it was the only appropriate sentence in this case."

During a trial last month, Ramirez testified that he was acting in self defense when he shot the security guards. He told the jury that a rival gang controls Las Delicias Bar and that a group of men there had beaten up his brother earlier that month.

He said he thought Maldonado-Florez was going to hurt him, so he pulled out his gun.

The jury apparently did not believe Ramirez. They convicted him after deliberating for 18 minutes.

Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.

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