Giovanni Ruiz, 21, second from left, talks to his attorney, Gabriel Grasso, while waiting to appear at North Las Vegas Justice Court, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Giovanni Ruiz, 21, waits in North Las Vegas Justice Court, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Giovanni Ruiz, 21, second from left, listens as his attorney, Gabriel Grasso, right, and prosecutor Michael Schwartzer talk to the judge during an appearance at North Las Vegas Justice Court Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Chris Lee listens to an attorney for Giovanni Ruiz, 21, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Giovanni Ruiz, 21, left, waits in North Las Vegas Justice Court, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Giovanni Ruiz, 21, second from right, walks into the courtroom at North Las Vegas Justice Court, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Giovanni Ruiz, 21, right, walks into the courtroom at North Las Vegas Justice Court, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Ruiz is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19-year-old UNLV student Paula Davis. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso had filed a motion to prohibit police officers from speaking to the media about the case. But after a discussion with prosecutors, Grasso told North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Chris Lee that he would withdraw the motion.
Detectives found a semi-automatic handgun and a receipt for the weapon hidden inside a suitcase in Ruiz’s home, according to his arrest report. The date on the receipt showed that the gun was purchased two days before Davis was killed Sept. 6.
Police said Ruiz had quarreled with Davis for several days after he refused to come to terms with a breakup.