2 Teens Dead In Murder-Suicide: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Two teens are dead after a Saturday night murder-suicide in unincorporated St. Petersburg, authorities said.

Hector Pfeiffer, 17, of Seminole shot and killed a 14-year-old New Port Richey girl he met on a social media app about a month ago before turning the gun on himself, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Deputies responded to a home on Grove Park Avenue North just before 9 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about a male and a female being shot.

They found the victim, Sayuri Ruiz, dead from a gunshot wound to the head and Pfeiffer with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, deputies said. He was brought to a nearby hospital, where he died around 10:15 p.m.

Investigators learned that the home’s owner was out of town and Pfeiffer was temporarily staying there to watch his dog. He invited Ruiz and another girl he also met on a social media app to hang out at the home Saturday around 4 a.m.

His 18-year-old friend also came over “and they consumed alcohol, marijuana and cocaine throughout the day,” the sheriff’s office said.

Pfeiffer took out a gun belonging to the homeowner and all four teens played and took photos with it.

During an argument about a consensual sexual encounter he had, he became upset.

While Ruiz was speaking to the other girl about the argument, Pfeiffer walked over, pointed the gun at Ruiz’s head and shot her, detectives said. He then shot himself in the head.

An autopsy will be conducted and the Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death as the investigation continues.

If you or someone you know is considering harming themselves, help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling 988. Immediate help is also available in an emergency by dialing 911. Additional mental health and suicide prevention resources are available online.