Teen killer who escaped hard time thanks to ‘soft-on-crime’ Los Angles DA George Gascon is arrested for murder again just six years later

A Los Angeles teen who escaped a harsh prison sentence after being convicted of murder was released by District Attorney George Gascón and charged with a second murder less than a year later.

Denmonne Lee was convicted in 2018 after a robbery at an Antelope Valley gas station ended in the death of former Marine John Ruh. Although the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he knew Ruh and provided his co-defendant Deonta “Fatboy” Johnson with the weapon, according to official records.

Gascón took office two years after Ruh’s murder and banned prosecutors from trying juveniles as adults, so Lee was ordered to serve time at the Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar until he was 25, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

A year after his conviction, officials said Lee “responded very well” to programs while in prison and probation officers transferred him from the Sylmar facility to a rehabilitation-oriented setting in Malibu.

Last June, the 22-year-old was released to a halfway house, enrolled in a community college and found a job at a nonprofit, according to the LA Times.

But in April, he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the Jan. 19 murder of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins in Compton.

Ruh’s widow Michelle Brace said in court this month: ‘Denmonne, you were given a gift and you wasted that gift. Against my family’s wishes, I hoped that you would change and help your community.

“I will always pray for you and your safety. You broke my heart when I heard you were in trouble again.

“You gave me hope when you apologized for killing… my husband. I forgave you, now I feel like a fool.”

Brace told the LA Times that she plans to leave California — but not before voting against Gascón, one of the country’s most progressive prosecutors, in November.

Denmonne Lee was convicted of murder after a 2018 gas station robbery ended in the death of former Marine John Ruh (pictured)

Although the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he knew Ruh and provided his co-defendant Deonta “Fatboy” Johnson with the weapon, according to official records.

Activists against Gascón often cite cases in which they say his ban on trying juveniles as adults has led to more crimes.

After a massive backlash, Gascón’s office has since developed a method for officials to have cases transferred to adult court.

After Ruh’s killing, police said Lee walked away “smiling” after the veteran was shot three times.

Lee reportedly bragged to his girlfriend about the murder, saying there was “a body on his gun.” Prosecutors also alleged that Lee threatened his girlfriend while in custody, saying he would shoot her for “snitching.”

The district attorney’s office told the LA Times in a statement that regardless of Gascón’s policies, Lee should have remained in juvenile court because he was not the shooter and had no prior criminal record.

But in April, he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the Jan. 19 murder of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins (pictured) in Compton.

Gascón’s November opponent, Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, has sought to capitalize on anger over crime and homelessness, issues that led voters to unseat San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a 2022 recall election .

In his campaign ads, Hochman, an attorney, has promised to change the direction of the district attorney, saying, “It’s time we have a district attorney who fights for victims, not criminals.”

Gascón was elected in 2020 on a criminal justice reform platform in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. He faced a recall attempt within his first 100 days and a second attempt later, both of which failed to appear on the ballot.

During his first term, Gascón immediately imposed his campaign agenda: not to seek the death penalty; not prosecuting juveniles as adults; ending cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes; and no longer file enhancements that result in harsher penalties for certain elements of crimes, recidivism or gang membership.

Ruh’s widow Michelle Brace said she plans to leave California — but not before voting against Gascón, one of the nation’s most progressive prosecutors, in November.

He was forced early in his term to reverse some of his biggest reforms, such as initially imposing the elimination of more than a hundred enhancements and raising a hate crime from a misdemeanor to a misdemeanor.

The move infuriated victims’ advocates, and Gascón backed down and reinstated the improvements in cases involving children, the elderly, and people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

His challengers have pledged to reverse many or nearly all of his most progressive policies, such as his early order to end sentencing enhancements.