Jeff Antonio Ramirez, a 35-year-old Hispanic/Latino man, was a nurturer and a healer who was remembered by his family as a selfless person who radiated love. He worked as a medical assistant and had recently been excited to start a new job at OHSU. He lived at home to care for his parents and was described as a great uncle, brother, and cousin who loved his dog, running, camping, and paddle boarding. His family said he simply "loved life."
On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 2, 2022, a day that should have been a celebration for his mother's birthday, Ramirez was shot and killed in his truck in Southeast Portland, Oregon. He had been running errands after taking his dog for a run. Around 3:51 p.m., near the intersection of Southeast 119th Avenue and Stark Street, a man approached his vehicle and fired a 9mm handgun multiple times. Witnesses rendered aid, but when police arrived, they found Ramirez deceased.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner later confirmed he died from a gunshot wound to the torso and ruled his death a homicide.
After shooting Ramirez, the gunman sped down the street and fired at a pedestrian, Stephen Barrera, who was seriously injured but survived. The suspect fled before police arrived. Homicide investigators collected 9mm shell casings at the scene, which they soon connected to the January 2 murder of another man, Isaiah Hurst, and other shootings in the area. The violence appeared to be random.
On March 2, 2022, police arrested Joseph Banks, 49, in connection with two other shootings. As the investigation continued, authorities linked him to the murders of Jeff Ramirez, Isaiah Hurst, and a third man, Mark Johnson, as well as the non-fatal shootings of three other people. A grand jury indicted Banks on a total of 15 charges, including three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder for the string of attacks that occurred between January and March 2022.
Following his arrest, Banks was evaluated by three forensic psychologists who separately concluded that he suffered from schizophrenia and lacked the capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct. After court proceedings were delayed when he was found unfit for trial, the case eventually concluded. Joseph Banks was found guilty except for insanity for the murders of Jeff Ramirez and the two other victims. He was committed to the custody of the Oregon State Hospital under the lifetime supervision of the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
