Man ‘ambushed’ mail carrier by repeatedly swinging metal pipe, Nevada officials say

A Nevada man will spend years in prison after he “ambushed” a mail carrier, officials said.

Ryan Joseph Ritter, a 31-year-old from Las Vegas, was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison on Dec. 13 after he repeatedly struck a mail carrier with a metal pipe, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada said.

Ritter approached the mail carrier, whom officials did not publicly identify, in February 2018 to ask for directions in North Las Vegas, according to court documents.

When the mail carrier engaged with the man, Ritter swung a 13-inch metal pipe at the mail carrier’s head, officials said.

“(He) continued to swing the metal pipe repeatedly at the mail carrier while the mail carrier fought back, resulting in injuries to both parties,” prosecutors said in court documents.

The mail carrier had cuts and scrapes on both knees, head, knuckles and his right forearm, court documents said, while Ritter had a bloody nose.

Ritter also took three of the man’s keys and ran off, officials said. Prosecutors said Ritter attacked the mail carrier in hopes of stealing the keys.

In June 2021, Ritter pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery. He also faces two years of supervised release.

This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Man ‘ambushed’ mail carrier by repeatedly swinging metal pipe, Nevada officials say."