KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The man convicted of murdering 22-year-old Leah Gomez in front of their 1-year-old daughter was sentenced Wednesday.
Luis Bernal-Sosa, 27, admitted to gunning down the mother of his young child as she was sitting inside her car with her 1-year-old daughter. The child wasn't hurt.
Bernal-Sosa was found guilty of murder and a felony gun charge in February. He now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The shooting happened on May 31, 2023 in Grand Rapids in the 300 block of Commerce Avenue SW. Bernal-Sosa used an AR-15-style rife to shoot Gomez several times in her car.
Law enforcement tracked Bernal-Sosa to the Chicagoland area and arrested him after the shooting. He was extradited to Grand Rapids.
The family of Leah Gomez learned of her suspected killer's arrest during her funeral service.
According to probable cause documents filed in the case, a friend of Gomez called 911 to report they had been on the phone with her when they heard shots fired in the background of the call.
Gomez was called "the best mom ever" by her aunt, Ashley Reil. "She did it full throttle, never looked back, never questioned anything," said Reil. "She gave her whole being to being her mom, and now she doesn't have her mom."
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.