Jury convicts Naples pair in shooting that left two with life-altering injuries

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Two codefendants were found guilty just before 8 p.m. Monday in connection with a 2023 shooting that left two people seriously wounded on Immokalee Road.

Ryan Guy Toranzo and Rebecca Zeldi Gabay were convicted following a seven-day joint trial in Collier County, according to a press release. Toranzo was convicted of two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of shoot at or within a vehicle, while Gabay was convicted of two counts of accessory after the fact.

Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Brown and Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney John Dommerich Jr. prosecuted the case.

On June 1, 2023, the victims were driving along Immokalee Road following a night out when shots rang out and their truck was riddled with bullets. The female victim, who was driving, was shot in the head, causing her to crash and flip the truck, and her boyfriend was also shot in the head.

Both survived the shooting but required extensive medical treatment and suffered life-altering injuries.

There had been an ongoing child custody dispute between the male victim and his ex-wife, defendant Rebecca Gabay. The victim was scheduled to start receiving more time with his children in just days when the shooting occurred.

Evidence introduced at trial showed Toranzo, who was dating and living with codefendant Gabay, was the shooter and Gabay arranged the shooting to happen. A van from the audio business she owned was tied to the crime, and the van belonged to a customer who had dropped it off to have audio equipment installed.

Gabay also sent threatening messages to the victim prior to the shooting. The defendants fled to New Jersey with her children immediately following the crime.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, located the defendants and arrested them in New Jersey in connection with the attempted murder.

A third codefendant, Julian Wolf, also charged in the case, testified at trial against his codefendants as part of a plea agreement. He testified that he was in the van along with Toranzo and they were at Gabay's home before Toranzo drove to a casino in Immokalee, then they switched places and Wolf became the driver.

He testified that a short while later the victims came out to their truck and drove off, Wolf followed, pulled up on them and Toranzo started shooting.

"This was a brazen act of violence that left two innocent people seriously wounded on Immokalee Road, one of our community's primary arteries," Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.

"The jury saw the full weight of the evidence and delivered a verdict that holds the offenders accountable," Rambosk said. "This case is also a powerful example of how advanced forensic technology, combined with relentless investigative work, can bring clarity and justice even in the most complex crimes."

Sentencing is scheduled for June 29.