The jury began deliberations at 11:30 a.m. and worked until 4:30 p.m. According to Judge Christopher Polking, the jury asked to continue deliberations into today.

In closing arguments Tuesday morning, Webster County First Assistant County Attorney Brad McIntyre told jurors that Rodriguez-Ruffridge had a deliberate intent to injure and to kill his father, Jason Ruffridge on Oct. 1, 2023. McIntyre said that after a physical and verbal altercation between Ruffridge and Rodriguez-Ruffridge, Ruffridge presented no threat to his son and granddaughter.

“He took an argument about Dulcolax drops and fruit and made it about bullets and a gun,” said McIntyre.

Lead defense attorney Arach Wilson III told jurors instead that Ruffridge “clearly had the upper hand” in the physical fight as he was bigger and taller than Rodriguez-Ruffridge. Wilson also stated that Ruffridge beat Rodriguez-Ruffridge so severely that two days later he still had red marks on his neck and bruises on his body.

“This is a self defense case,” said Wilson. “This is a stand your ground case. Olnario was in his own home. He had a guest in his own home who had just beaten him, was hitting him in the ribs and in the face and then said he was going to take his child away. He had a sincere and honest belief that danger existed. There is no winner in this case. This is a family tragedy, a community tragedy. He has to deal with this for the rest of his life.”

McIntyre countered in his final chance to speak with the jury by reminding them that each shot that Rodriguez-Ruffridge took was also a shot fired at his 1-year-old daughter, whom Ruffridge was holding when he was shot.

Jury deliberations will continue at the Webster County Courthouse this morning.