Florida to Execute Ricardo Gonzalez in December 2026
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for the man convicted in the 1992 murder of a North Miami officer.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Violence
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for 56-year-old Ricardo Gonzalez, who is scheduled to be executed on December 1, 2026. Gonzalez was sentenced to death in 1994 for the murder of North Miami Police Officer Stephen Bauer.
Why it matters
The execution date follows a decades-long legal process stemming from a 1992 bank robbery that left the veteran officer dead. Leonardo Franqui was also sentenced to death for his role in the fatal shooting.
Ricardo Gonzalez and his co-defendant Leonardo Franqui were both sentenced to death in 1994. Gonzalez remains in custody as the state moves toward the December 1, 2026, execution date.
The players
Ricardo Gonzalez
He is a 56-year-old inmate currently under a death sentence for the 1992 murder of a police officer.
Ron DeSantis
He is the current Governor of Florida and holds the authority to sign death warrants for convicted inmates.
Stephen Bauer
He was a 13-year veteran of the North Miami Police Department who was killed in the line of duty.
Leonardo Franqui
He was a co-defendant in the 1992 bank robbery case who also received a death sentence in 1994.
The details
Gonzalez fired the fatal shot into Officer Stephen Bauer during a robbery at the Kislack National Bank in 1992. The officer, a 13-year veteran of the North Miami Police Department, was killed while attempting to intervene as five men committed the robbery.
Timeline
January 3, 1992: The bank robbery and killing of Officer Stephen Bauer occurred.
1994: Ricardo Gonzalez and Leonardo Franqui were sentenced to death.
October 30, 2026: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant.
December 1, 2026: Ricardo Gonzalez is scheduled to be executed.
Legal Context
This case follows a pattern set by the 1994 Florida sentencing of Ricardo Gonzalez and Leonardo Franqui, reflecting the state's approach to capital punishment for homicides involving law enforcement. The state continues to navigate long-standing legal precedents in death penalty cases.
This execution serves as a final chapter in a violent crime that impacted the North Miami community over three decades ago. It highlights the long-term resolution of criminal proceedings involving the death of local law enforcement officers.
The takeaway
The signing of the death warrant marks a definitive point in a case that has remained active in the court system for over 30 years. Residents should be aware that the state continues to pursue capital sentences for crimes committed against police officers.
What happens next
Ricardo Gonzalez is scheduled to be executed on December 1, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on legal developments in the region, visit the Florida Violence section.
