The man who shot and killed a 20-year-old stranger before stealing his vehicle at the Federal Way Crossings shopping plaza in 2021 has been sentenced to prison.
Leonel Gonzalez, 37, whose last known address was in Tacoma, was sentenced Jan. 8 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent to 39 years and three months in the state Department of Corrections for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm following the shooting death of Ruvim Stukov, 20.
The charges stem from the Dec. 8, 2021, incident in which Gonzalez shot and killed Stukov in the Crossings parking lot, pulled his body out of the vehicle, left him on the ground, and then stole his car. Stukov was a stranger to Gonzalez. Stukov was in the parking lot of The Crossings eating food he had just gotten from Panda Express when Gonzalez attempted to rob him and ultimately shot him three times, killing him before stealing his car, according to court documents.
The state, represented by King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Brent Kling, recommended a mid-range sentence of 479 and a half months, which, with the mandatory 60-month firearm enhancement to run consecutively, would put the state recommendation at 539 and a half months. Gonzalez, represented by attorney Tamara Gaffney, recommended the low-range sentence of 411 months, which, with the mandatory 60-month firearm enhancement to run consecutively, would put the state recommendation at 471.
Statement from the victim’s mother
The victim’s mother, Larisa Stukov, gave a statement to Judge Josephine Wiggs and, at the same time, addressed Gonzalez, telling him that she forgave him, would visit him in prison if he would like, and wanted to give him a bible so that he might find salvation in Jesus. Before she addressed Gonzalez, she spoke about Ruvim Stukov and his talents, merits, who he was, and how his death has affected her and her family.
Larisa Stukov said that she and her husband, Petr Stukov, had prayed for 10 years to have Ruvim Stukov, their second child. She said Ruvim Stukov graduated from school with honors, learned to play the violin, piano and guitar, and loved singing worship songs.
Larisa Stukov said that since Ruvim Stukov’s death, her husband Petr Stukov died due to a heart attack, which she believes was caused by the stress of Ruvim’s passing. She said before Ruvim’s death, Petr Stukov had no health problems.
“When it grew late, and he still hadn’t come back or answered his phone, we began to feel that something terrible had happened,” Larisa Stukov said. “It is very painful for me to recall that day and relive those moments. That day, our son Ruvim was brutally murdered.”
Another person who gave a statement to the judge was Katia Ahkremenko, who said she is the director of the youth choir at the Salvation Baptist Church, where Ruvim Stukov served for many years. Ahkremenko said that when Ruvim Stukov was 16, he got very involved with the choir and worship team, but he was even further involved during the COVID-19 pandemic when he stepped up to continue the church’s online ministry. She added that Ruvim was an exceptional singer who handled the most challenging solo acts and aspired to become a choral conductor.
Ahkremenko said that on the day he died, Ruvim Stukov had been preparing for the Christmas special at church. Ahkremenko said she exchanged a few words with him, but did not know it would be the last time she would see him.
Ahkremenko said Ruvim Stukov’s death impacted family, friends, their choir, their church, their Slavic community, and Christian Slavic communities around the world. Ahkremenko said, as an educator, she’s encountered many young people, but Ruvim Stukov was truly exceptional. He had a heart of gold, and his acts of selflessness, love and positivity radiated wherever he went.
“Mr. Gonzalez, you took the life of a young man, a 20-year-old, full of promise, talent and love. Ruvim would have turned 24 this month,” Ahkremenko said. “Ruvim was a bright light in this world, something that we need more of. You deprived his family of their future with him.”
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The victim’s mother reading a statement to the judge at the sentencing. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/The Mirror
Leonel Gonzalez at his sentencing. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Pictured left: Leonel Gonzalez at his sentencing. Pictured right: The victim’s mother reading a statement to the judge at the sentencing. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Pictured left: Leonel Gonzalez at his sentencing. Pictured right: The victim’s mother reading a statement to the judge at the sentencing. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
