Suspect in Bridgeport deadly shooting was convicted of 1989 double homicide at Father Panik Village
Jorge Ortiz is currently charged with murder for a deadly shooting on Oct. 12, but Bridgeport police said 37 years earlier, Ortiz killed two other men in an attempted robbery.
More Stories
When Jorge Ortiz was arrested this month in a deadly daytime shooting in Bridgeport, his warrant stated that he had previously been convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years. News 12 has learned that this case wasn't just for one victim. It was a double homicide.
The 57-year-old is currently charged with shooting and killing a stranger, 48-year-old Nelson Batista, in what police called an apparent road rage incident at the corner of Park Avenue and Cottage Street on Oct. 12. Thirty-seven years before that, Ortiz took two other lives in the city, according to police.
It happened Sept. 10, 1989, at Father Panik Village, the state's infamous first public housing complex, which has since been torn down. Ortiz was 20 years old at the time. Police said he used a .22 caliber rifle to gun down 37-year-old Zdzislaw "Jeffry" Chmielnicki and 46-year-old Roman Wenta during an attempted robbery around 2 a.m. The victims had been lured there, according to police.
Ortiz was convicted of both murders in 1992 and received two 30-year prison sentences, but they ran at the same time. News 12 reached out to the Department of Corrections to find out how much of that time he served but hasn't heard back yet. Court records show Ortiz received a straight prison sentence with no probation ordered upon his release.
"It's crazy to know that somebody like this was out and able to do harm," said Wisleidis Cruz, Batista's sister.
Batista died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Dash cam footage, which was turned over to investigators and also posted online, was critical to Ortiz's arrest in the case. Police said it showed the moments after Batista was shot in the chest, including Ortiz pistol-whipping Batista before running off.
"You can see his rage, especially afterwards when he hit my brother with the gun in the head," Cruz said.
For Batista's family, learning of Ortiz's past only makes their loss harder to understand.
"This guy has damaged multiple families, and I really do hope with this he cannot damage any more," Cruz told News 12. "This is just unreal."
Ortiz has been in custody on the current murder charge since Oct. 18. He's being held on a $5 million bond and returns to court on Nov. 3.
PRIOR COVERAGE: Arrest warrant reveals new details about suspect, deadly daylight shooting in Bridgeport
'Catch this killer.' 48-year-old man fatally shot in Bridgeport
