A Hartford man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing of his 17-year-old cousin, a student from Bulkeley High School in Hartford.
Police said Edwin Ruiz, 29, of 36 Bedford Street in Hartford, stabbed his teenage cousin, Bryan Salaman Acosta, 17, in the neck and torso at the family's apartment. The incident happened on Nov. 3, 2014, according to the judicial website.
Authorities were called to the scene around 8:10 p.m.that night, where they found Salaman lying on the sidewalk and bleeding, according to police. Family members were applying pressure to Salaman's wounds.
The teen was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital, but doctors couldn't save him. Salaman was pronounced dead at 10:11 p.m. that evening.
Police said the teen and Ruiz had been fighting all day leading up to the stabbing.
According to the incident report, Ruiz and Salaman Acosta were at the apartment together with other family members when Ruiz asked Salaman Acosta to go to the store with him, Ruiz's mother told investigators.
A few minutes later, Ruiz returned to the apartment and told his mother "he was going to jail," then admitted to stabbing his cousin, according to the case report. Ruiz's wife told police he sat down on the couch and hid his face in his hands.
Ruiz initially told police three men had run up to the them while he and Salaman Acosta were walking to the store and assaulted Salaman Acosta. He said he tried to bring his cousin home when Salaman Acosta collapsed, and told police his family members were lying, the incident report says.
Ruiz then "became agitated at the questions and was uncooperative," according to the report.
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The suspect's wife told police Ruiz had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and was taking medication, the report says. She said he was arrested several years ago in connection with another stabbing and "several domestic violence incidents," which resulted in a restraining order.
Hartford police said Ruiz does not have a history of domestic violence or related arrests within the city.
Ruiz has been charged with one count of murder in connection with Salaman Acosta's death.
School officials said Salaman Acosta was in the lower school, which includes grades nine and 10.
Ruiz is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 13. He is still being held in custody on a $499,000 bond.
