Michael Ramos, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, was fatally shot on October 23, 2020, in Apopka, Florida. The incident occurred during an attempted home invasion robbery at his cousin's residence on South Lake Pleasant Road. Ramos, along with two accomplices, S’Mandre Law and Ja-ven Washington, planned to rob his cousin of $10,000 in cash. The robbery attempt turned deadly when Ramos' cousin, who was armed, exchanged gunfire with the intruders.
Ramos was shot multiple times in the torso, abdomen, and leg, and was later found dead in a drainage ditch near the residence.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the incident, which led to the arrests of S’Mandre Law, 24, and Ja-ven Washington, 20. Both men were charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and attempted home invasion robbery with a firearm. Law also faced an additional charge of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. Despite the arrests, investigators were unable to definitively determine whose bullets fatally struck Ramos. The cousin who fired in self-defense was not charged in the incident.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Ramos had been unemployed and was involved in a dispute with his cousin over a woman. This conflict reportedly motivated Ramos to orchestrate the robbery. Law, who was injured during the exchange of gunfire, initially provided a false alibi, claiming he was shot while driving to a bowling alley. However, further questioning and evidence, including a bullet hole in his iPhone, linked him to the crime scene. Law eventually requested a lawyer and ceased cooperating with investigators.
The case highlighted the complexities of self-defense laws and the challenges in prosecuting accomplices in felony murder cases. The arrests of Law and Washington underscored the legal principle that accomplices can be held accountable for deaths that occur during the commission of a felony, even if they did not directly cause the fatal injury. The investigation into Michael Ramos' death remains a poignant reminder of the tragic consequences of violent crime and the ripple effects it has on families and communities.
