Felipe Ascencio, 40, male, was fatally shot inside his home on the 700 block of Eighth Street in Ramona, California, on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Deputies from the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation were called around 2:35 p.m. and found him with a gunshot wound; despite summoning paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified publicly by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which noted the incident appeared isolated. Ascencio served as pastor of Templo Monte Horeb in Ramona, and local coverage described a congregation grieving the sudden loss of a leader many regarded as a father figure and mentor.
Detectives identified and arrested a suspect in the case: Joel Martin Dukes III, 22, of Ramona, who was booked on a murder charge. Authorities indicated they were continuing to interview witnesses and gather evidence, and as of the most recent updates, the motive and broader circumstances remained under investigation; officials also emphasized there was no ongoing threat to the community.
In the days that followed, friends and parishioners remembered Ascencio as a devoted husband and father of two whose ministry and personal kindness reached beyond the church walls. Vigils and tributes highlighted the shock felt across the town, and a fundraiser was organized to support his family as they navigate the aftermath of his killing.
