SEATTLE — In a crowded courtroom, Chris Wesolowicz’s family and friends sat together, waiting to hear what they hoped would be justice for Chris. They say the magnitude of the loss is immeasurable, and the way he died still haunts them.
“I found myself holding him on the ground as he lay dying and apologizing,” the victim's widow, Mary Wesolowicz, told the court.
It happened on Nov. 18, 2022. Chris and Mary had just had dinner at Southcenter Mall. They were returning to the parking garage just as one man and two teenagers were attempting to steal their vehicle.
The trio tried to escape in the car they arrived in, a stolen white Hyundai. Chris Wesolowicz jumped on the hood of the car to stop them, but police say shots were fired through the windshield, hitting Chris four times and killing him.
A six-month investigation recovered shell casings, surveillance video and social media posts that led to the arrests of Cristopher Ruvalcaba, Joe Aguilera, and Kevin Diaz Bautista.
Aguilera and Ruvalcaba both pleaded guilty as charged and were sentenced by Judge Andrea Darvas.
“I just want to say I am sorry,” said Aguilera.
“I really do apologize with all of my heart,” Ruvalcaba told the court.
Ruvalcaba was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison, and Aguilera received a sentence of more than 10 years.
Wesolowicz is remembered by family and friends as someone who loved adventures. He liked camping and being a dog dad.
“In that horrific moment, I lost not only my husband but my best friend and my high school sweetheart,” said Mary. “The life we had built together and the future we had planned were cruelly, cruelly ripped away. The physical and emotional aftermath of that night has been devastating.”