Jyineez Shamik Cruz, an African American male, was a 20-year-old from Meriden, Connecticut, with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. Known affectionately as "Neez" by his loved ones, he was a graduate of Orville H. Platt High School and had recently enrolled in an automotive program at Porter and Chester School. He was known for his love of family, music, sports, and had a business plan tucked away in his bible.
In the early morning hours of August 22, 2021, just three days before his
twenty-first birthday, Jyineez's life was tragically cut short. He was attending a birthday party hosted by Brandon Ramos at his recording studio in downtown Meriden. An argument broke out between Jyineez and Ramos in the parking lot outside the studio. The dispute escalated tragically when Ramos walked to a car, retrieved a. 45 caliber handgun, and returned to shoot Cruz three times. Jyineez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Meriden Police Department launched an intensive investigation that quickly identified 23-year-old Brandon Ramos as the suspect. By September 2021, an arrest warrant had been secured, but investigators learned that Ramos had fled the state. A manhunt involving the Meriden police and the U.S. Marshals Service traced him to Florida. On November 9, 2021, Ramos was taken into custody. He waived extradition and was brought back to Connecticut in December to face charges that included murder and carrying a pistol without a permit, as he did not have a permit for the weapon used in the shooting.
In July 2025, a jury in New Haven Superior Court found Brandon Ramos guilty of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. His sentencing was scheduled for September 22, 2025, bringing a measure of legal closure to the untimely death of a young man who was just on the cusp of pursuing his dreams.
