Life Sentence Handed Down

A 2018 murder of a high school senior has been concluded with a life sentence for one and a more than 25-year sentence for another as a jury finished their work on May 20.
Lavanta Lamar Douglas will serve a life sentence after his conviction on the first degree murder “felony murder” charge. He was also convicted of attempted aggravated robbery which resulted in three additional years.
Taylor Lucas Robinson, 20, of Bolivar, will serve six years for attempted aggravated robbery and 22 years for facilitation of first degree murder.
Both Robinson and Douglas were convicted in January of 2020.
Ruiz, 19, of Bolivar perished March 20, 2018 when he was shot while washing dishes at El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant in Bolivar. Ruiz was a senior at Bolivar Central High School and on path to graduate in 2018.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m. that evening when two gunmen entered the back door of El Ranchito demanding money. But while video surveillance shows Ruiz appearing to be complying with the demands of the men, he was shot and later pronounced dead at Bolivar General Hospital.
Two that pled guilty to lesser crimes were John Curtis Gray, 21, of Bolivar and Javon M. Blakemore, 19, of Bolivar.
Gray pled guilty to second-degree murder on September 19, 2019 and received a sentence of 17 years, while Blakemore, who pled guilty to second-degree murder as well, received a 13.5 year sentence. Blakemore pled guilty on April 18, 2019.
Photo of Michael Ruiz provided by Maria Howell.