Ruben Cantu, 65, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ricky Marquez Jr., 42, during a nightclub parking lot altercation on February 2, 2025. According to court records, Cantu was convicted of both murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred at Papi Gallo Cantina on the South Side of San Antonio, where Cantu had been attending a birthday gathering with family members. After some group members became intoxicated, staff escorted them out of the building. In the parking lot, an altercation broke out, and Cantu pulled out a firearm, firing multiple shots into the crowd.
Marquez was among those shot, and he died at the scene. Another man was also injured in the shooting. Cantu left the scene but was later identified as the prime suspect through surveillance video and witness accounts. He was arrested in late March 2025 after being linked to a separate terroristic threat investigation.
Background: The incident occurred during a time of increased violence on the South Side, with several high-profile shootings reported in the area around that time. Cantu's sentencing marks one of the few convictions related to these incidents.