Suspects in shooting of swamp buggy racer Amy Chesser, boyfriend transported to Naples
The ex-wife of a man shot while driving with his girlfriend June 1 and her current boyfriend were transported to the Naples Jail Center from New Jersey on Wednesday.
Collier County deputies arrested Ryan Toranzo, 38, and Rebecca Gabay, 36, on July 6 in New Jersey in connection to the shooting that injured swamp buggy racer Amy Chesser and her boyfriend, Scott McCandless. The pair was held at Middlesex County Department of Corrections until Wednesday when deputies transported them via a commercial flight to Fort Myers and then to Collier County, according to arrest reports.
“This was a horrific crime, and I am pleased that these individuals are back in our jurisdiction as the criminal prosecution process continues,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “Our dedicated detectives are still hard at work on this investigation.”
Toranzo and Gabay are held at the Naples Jail Center. Toranzo faces charges of two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of shooting into a vehicle, according to the report. Gabay faces charges of interference with custody and concealing a child contrary to a court order, which are related to the June 1 incident but not the shooting directly, officials said.
Arrested in New Jersey: Naples residents arrested in connection with shooting of swamp buggy racer, boyfriend
The June 1 shooting at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Twin Eagles Boulevard caused a rollover crash in Rural Estates. A GoFundMe identified the victims as swamp buggy racer Amy Chesser and boyfriend Scott McCandless, who both sustained life-threatening injuries.
The couple was airlifted to Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, a report indicates. Investigators later found both had been shot. As of June 18, both victims had undergone several lifesaving procedures such as brain surgery, according to a report.
At the hospital, McCandless told police Gabay hates him, and they had a custody battle over their two children. Police were told the ex-wife said she would have him killed before he got custody of their children, an arrest report detailed.
He told police Toranzo was his ex-wife's boyfriend who lived with her. At a visitation with his children at a public park, he said Toranzo told him "He would have him taken care of if he saw him outside of the park," according to the report.
During McCandless' visitation with his kids the day before he was shot, his phone alerted him that an Apple Air Tag was tracking his location, according to the report.
First suspect arrested: Naples man arrested in shooting that injured accomplished swamp buggy racer, boyfriend
Julian Mendes-Wolf, a third suspect, was arrested in connection with the shootings June 19 and has been held without bond since then. The 28-year-old entered a plea of not guilty on July 5. His next court date is Sept. 21.
Toranzo was denied bond, and Gabay's bond is set at $20,000, records show.
Emma Behrmann is a breaking news reporter for The Naples Daily News and News-Press. You may reach her at EBehrmann@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @emmabehrmann.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Rebecca Gabay, Ryan Toranzo: Shooting suspects transported to Naples
