DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Ricardo Gonzalez; Florida's 21st Execution of 2026 Set for December 1
Gonzalez, 56, was convicted of murdering North Miami police officer Steven Bauer during a 1992 bank robbery. Barring successful appeals, his December 1 execution would pass the state record of 19 executions set just last year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant on October 30 for Ricardo Gonzalez, convicted of murdering a police officer during a bank robbery more than 30 years ago. Gonzalez is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection starting at noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at Florida State Prison in Raiford, about 45 miles southwest of Jacksonville.
Gonzalez, 56, was one of five men who robbed the Kislack National Bank in North Miami on January 3, 1992. Officer Steven Bauer, 39, a 12-year veteran working an off-duty job at the bank, was escorting tellers to their stations when the men confronted him; the court determined that Gonzalez fired the fatal bullet. Gonzalez was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, grand theft and burglary, and the jury recommended death by a vote of seven to five. He has been on Florida's death row for 32 years.
Barring successful appeals, Gonzalez would be the 21st person put to death in Florida in 2026, surpassing the state's record of 19 executions set in 2025. The warrant comes 11 days after the state executed William Reaves Jr., and two more executions are scheduled before Gonzalez's date: Jesse Guardado on November 5 and Thomas Overton on November 19. Florida has carried out 18 of the 32 executions in the United States so far this year, according to DeathPenaltyInfo.org. DeSantis has said the accelerated pace of warrants is meant to bring justice to victims' families who have waited decades.
