Getaway driver in 2009 murder in Bradenton of two rival gang members sentenced to jail

MANATEE -- The suspected getaway driver in a 2009 murder of two rival gang members will serve jail time and probation as part of a negotiated plea agreement.

Eduardo Milian, 26, was convicted Tuesday morning of two counts of being an accessory after the fact in the 2009 killings. A judge accepted the plea agreement presented by his defense attorney and Assistant State Attorney Darlene Ragoonanan.

Milian was sentenced to serve 364 days in the Manatee County jail with credit for time served. It will be followed by four years probation, and he must complete 100 hours of community service and pay court costs.

He will be also eligible to terminate the probation in two years if he completes all conditions.

Milian has been in custody at Manatee County jail since his June 17 arrest.

On July 3, 2009, 18-year-olds Irwin Figueroa and Rudy Garduno were shot to death while walking in the 1100 block of 59th Avenue Drive East in Bradenton. Moments before, Figueroa, Garduno and a third gang member had an altercation with four rival gang members.

The victims were documented gang members with SUR 13 or Westside Locos and the suspects were all Brown Pride Locos.

In July, lead homicide detective Jeffrey Bliss recommended two counts of second-degree murder be filed against Jose Hernandez, 24, the suspected shooter. Ragoonanan said she could not comment on that case since it is still an open investigation. No decision has been made on whether to file charges.

Hernandez is serving a 25-year sentence at Madison Correctional Institution for a 2010 conviction for armed home invasion with a firearm. His scheduled release date is Aug. 15, 2034.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 11:39 PM with the headline "Getaway driver in 2009 murder in Bradenton of two rival gang members sentenced to jail ."