Florida man faces death penalty after jury finds him guilty of killing childhood friend in storage unit

DEBARY, Fla. (TCD) -- A jury convicted a man this week of fatally shooting his childhood friend in a storage unit where the man was staying in 2019.

The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the 7th Circuit announced Thursday, Jan. 11, that Julio Rivera was found guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with Roberto Ovalle’s death. Rivera’s sentencing is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 16, and he could face the death penalty.

According to the state attorney’s office, on Dec. 8, 2019, Rivera and his childhood friend, Ovalle, met up at a storage unit the victim rented. Ovalle reportedly allowed Rivera to stay in the storage unit, but eventually Rivera "felt disrespected by his friend, pulled out a gun, and shot Ovalle in the back of the head."

Ovalle’s girlfriend witnessed her boyfriend’s shooting death and reported it to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The girlfriend reportedly fled the scene, but "Rivera followed her to her vehicle and accompanied her back to the victim’s home," telling her "he would protect her and her children."

According to the sheriff’s office, the victim’s girlfriend said she took Rivera’s firearm from him and went to her children. Rivera then traveled back to the storage unit, where he was met by responding deputies.

At the time, Rivera was wanted for parole violations in relation to a separate murder conviction out of New York, and he was allegedly staying in the storage unit to avoid arrest.

According to the state attorney’s office, Rivera, who had been in Volusia County for only six weeks before killing Ovalle, "admitted in a recorded jailhouse phone call that he had snapped and killed the victim."

MORE:

• Rivera Convicted of Murdering Friend in DeBary Storage Unit, Faces Death - State Attorney's Office for the 7th Circuit
• UPDATE #2: The victim's next of kin has been contacted; the victim's ID is Roberto Miguel Ovalle, 40 (DOB 7/1/1979), of Delton - Volusia County Sheriff's Office