Suspects Arrested, Charged in Aggravated Robbery at 9600 Hempstead

January 29, 2008 - Charges have been filed against several suspects arrested following a robbery in which two on-duty Houston Police officers fired at the suspects in the 9600 block of Hempstead Road about 1:20 a.m. on January 19.

Two of the suspects, identified as Ashley Nicole Ramirez (H/f, DOB: 5-3-85), and Emilio Ricardo Elias (5-9-91), are charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in the 232nd State District Court. A third suspect, Jonathan Nathan Ramirez (H/m, DOB: 11-20-85), is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in the 228th State District Court.

Officer N. Juarez, who discharged his duty weapon, is assigned to the Central Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in September 1995. Officer S. Le, who also discharged his duty weapon, is assigned to the Westside Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in December 2003. Neither officer was injured during this incident.

A juvenile victim, 16, suffered trauma to the left side of his head and was treated and released at the scene.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeants A. Carrillo and L. A. Flores, Senior Police Officer B. D. Evans and Officer R. T. Figueroa reported:

A juvenile male was walking to his vehicle in the parking lot of a night club at 9600 Hempstead when suspects Elias and Jonathan Ramirez approached him at gunpoint and demanded his car keys. Elias and Jonathan Ramirez then took the victim's wallet and cell phone and then struck him in the head with a pistol. Officers Juarez and Le, working an approved extra job at the location, learned of the robbery and approached the area. As Officer Juarez approached, one of the suspects fired at him. Fearing for his life, Officer Juarez returned fire but did not strike the suspects. Both suspects then ran between the parked vehicles to a waiting blue Chevrolet Impala, parked at the end of a row of parked cars. As suspect Ashley Ramirez drove away, the back seat passenger fired at Officer Le, who attempted to take cover behind a parked truck. Fearing for his life, Officer Le returned fire and struck the vehicle. As the suspect vehicle fled southbound through the parking lot, the suspects fired several more times and then fled in an unknown direction.

Further investigation identified Elias, Jonathan Ramirez and Ashley Ramirez as the suspects in this case. All three suspects were arrested without incident and confessed to their involvement in the crime.

As is customary in officer-involved shootings occurring within the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

VHS/JC
Inc. #009269409

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.