LOS ANGELES（LASD）－A man suspected of killing a rival gang member was extradited from the Country of Mexico to face arraignment in a Los Angeles County court.
The suspect was involved in a verbal dispute with his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend and father of her child. The heated argument led to a physical assault that ended when the suspect shot the victim numerous times in the upper torso.
The investigation began Tuesday, September 15, 2015, when Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives responded to the 5100 block of Astor Avenue, Commerce, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Ernest Ramos, 25. They learned East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to the location regarding an assault with a deadly weapon, gunshot victim call.
The investigation led detectives to identify the suspect as Robert Becerra, 20, Victim Ramos’ estranged girlfriend’s current boyfriend.
After the shooting, the suspect fled in a vehicle and was last seen driving southbound away from the scene. During the investigation, detectives learned that Suspect Becerra had fled the United States into Mexico.
Timing, interagency communication and international cooperation were essential at this juncture, as it was determined Suspect Becerra, indeed, had fled the country. With the culmination of communication, effort and cooperation between agencies, the operation to locate Suspect Becerra was successful and he was detained by Mexican law enforcement personnel.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detectives coordinated with agents from the San Ysidro Marshall’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and took custody of Suspect Becerra. They returned to Los Angeles County on Friday afternoon, April 15, 2016, and transported Suspect Becerra to Los Angeles Police Department, Metropolitan Detention Center, where he was booked for the charge of Murder.
Suspect Becerra is being held without bail. He will face arraignment on Monday, April 18, 2016, at Central County Courthouse.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department would like to recognize the multiple agencies in the United States and abroad contributed to the process which resulted in Suspect Becerra being returned to the United States for prosecution, including the San Ysidro Marshall’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. State Department.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau at (213) 229-1700. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or text the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
