Co-defendant testifies in Collier County attempted murder trial

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

Jurors heard major testimony Thursday in the trial over the 2023 attempted murder shooting of Scotty McCandless and Amy Chesser, as another man charged in the case took the stand for the state.

Julian Wolf, who is also charged in the case, testified against co-defendants Rebecca Gabay and Ryan Toranzo as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Wolf told jurors he and Toranzo left Pure Audio, a business owned by Gabay, in a white van on the night of June 1, 2023. He said Toranzo told him they were taking a client’s van out for a drive to test a newly installed stereo system.

Wolf testified that the two first stopped at Gabay’s house, then drove to the parking lot of Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, where McCandless and Chesser were on a date night.

According to Wolf, they waited there about 20 to 30 minutes until the couple left in a black pickup truck.

Wolf said Toranzo then asked him to drive back. He testified he did not realize they were following the pickup truck and did not know McCandless and Chesser were inside.

He said that changed when they pulled up next to the truck near the Twin Eagles community.

"What happened as you accelerated and passed the black truck?" a prosecutor asked. "The window went down, and Ryan started shooting at the truck," Wolf testified. When asked if he fired a gun, Wolf said no and that he was shocked in the moments after the gunfire.

Wolf told jurors they returned to Pure Audio after the shooting, changed clothes and wiped down the van to remove evidence.

He also testified that Toranzo cut the gun into pieces using tools and hid the pieces.

Wolf said he did not immediately go to law enforcement because Toranzo was his friend. "I was pretty much just looking out for Ryan at that point," he testified.

Wolf is testifying under an agreement that would reduce his charges if he testifies truthfully.

During cross-examination, defense attorneys questioned Wolf about his shooting experience, bringing up prior target practice, competitions and firearm ownership.

Wolf maintained he did not know where they were going that night or what Toranzo was planning.

The trial is scheduled to continue Friday in Collier County.

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