In the quiet community of Monterey Park, New Mexico, the final hours of 2025 were shattered by a sudden act of violence that claimed the life of 21-year-old Jesus Olivas. On the evening of December 31st, what began as a gathering of friends took a tragic turn, leaving one young man dead and another facing a lifetime behind bars.
Earlier that night, Olivas was at his home on Santa Cruz Road with a friend when they were joined by 21-year-old Angel Ramos of El Cerro Mission.
The three men were spending New Year's Eve together, drinking and listening to music. By all accounts, the atmosphere was friendly and devoid of any conflict. The friend of the two men later told Valencia County Sheriff's deputies that he was looking down at his phone to change a song when he heard a sudden, loud pop. When he looked up, he saw that Olivas had been shot.
Chaos erupted as Olivas, clutching a gunshot wound to his chest, stumbled out of the house. Ramos immediately followed and, while on the phone with a 911 dispatcher, began performing CPR on his friend. The other man soon took over life-saving measures, continuing until emergency personnel arrived. Despite their efforts, Jesus Olivas was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the aftermath, a visibly distraught Angel Ramos was interviewed by law enforcement. He claimed to have recently purchased the pistol and was not very familiar with it. He initially believed the bullet had only grazed Olivas's arm and urged that they go to the hospital. However, based on the investigation, Angel Ramos was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was subsequently booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on January 1, 2026, and is being held on a no-bond hold.
