Ryan Toranzo, the accused getaway driver in a North Naples double attempted murder, was denied bond in court Friday morning. Toranzo is charged with aiding in the shooting of Scotty McCandless and Amy Chesser, who were both shot in the head while driving on June 1, 2023, at the intersection of Twin Eagles Boulevard and Immokalee Road in Northern Collier County.
Toranzo’s attorney argued to a judge at the Collier County Courthouse that two witnesses from a Mobil gas station on Immokalee Road couldn’t "100% with certainty" identify him. Despite this, the judge ruled that the other evidence against Toranzo was overwhelming, leading to the decision to keep him in jail without bond.
"They didn't end our life, but they took our life. If he was released, it would just open doors that don't need to be opened," said Amy Chesser, one of the two shooting victims.
The shooting, which left both McCandless and Chesser fighting for their lives with traumatic brain injuries, stemmed from what McCandless described as a heated custody battle with his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Gabay. Court documents provided to NBC2 News show aggressive messages and threats from Gabay to McCandless prior to the shooting.
According to investigators, surveillance footage linked a van from Gabay’s business to the crime scene. It was later spotted at her shop, where it had been cleaned, and surveillance footage was deleted. After the incident, both Gabay and Toranzo fled to New Jersey with her children, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
“It was such a heinous, serious crime. That put a damper on everyone’s life,” McCandless said. “Relief? I don't want him out. I'm sure Amy definitely doesn’t want him out.”
Authorities believe Toranzo’s friend, Julian Mendes-Wolf, was the shooter, while Gabay orchestrated the attack. Toranzo and Mendes-Wolf are facing first-degree attempted murder charges, while Gabay is facing an accessory to murder charge.
“This is the start. But it shows hope, and it shows the justice system is going to take care of us,” McCandless said.
Video footage and sound from the courtroom proceedings are exclusive to NBC2 News.