EVERETT — A fatal shooting along W. Casino Road on Tuesday was the result of domestic violence, police say.
Alexander Sandoval-Ortiz, 33, was arrested Thursday for investigation of first-degree murder in the death of Carlos H. Lara-Ramos, 28. He also is accused of illegally possessing a firearm.
The killing had “signs of premeditation,” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mona Clarkson said Friday in Everett District Court. A judge set bail at $1 million.
Lara-Ramos was dating Sandoval-Ortiz’ ex-girlfriend, according to the arrest report.
The woman told police she had left Sandoval-Ortiz because of his controlling and possessive behavior. He reportedly texted her a picture of a gun hours before the killing, asking where she was.
Sandoval-Ortiz, a felon and gang member, had made repeated threats to kill the other man, records show.
The day of the shooting, the woman had dropped Lara-Ramos off at the Arterra Apartments, 711 W. Casino Road. Neither man lived there, according to police.
Sandoval-Ortiz waited outside the apartments, looking for Lara-Ramos for an hour, police alleged. After his arrest, Sandoval-Ortiz reportedly told police he traded drugs for the .380-caliber pistol used in the killing. The purchase happened just 14 hours before the gunfire.
When Lara-Ramos came outside around 4 p.m., a fight broke out between the men, starting with a punch by Sandoval-Ortiz, records show.
Sandoval-Ortiz told police he meant to pistol-whip Lara-Ramos, but the gun went off accidentally.
However, witnesses said he “clearly pointed the gun at the victim’s chest, then pulled the trigger,” police wrote.
Lara-Ramos died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Police recovered the pistol.
Sandoval-Ortiz has two felony convictions in California related to drugs. His address was listed as homeless.
He also has at least 15 aliases, and ties to California and Guatemala. Prosecutors are waiting for confirmation of his identity through an FBI fingerprint analysis, Clarkson said
In Washington, nearly half of all domestic-violence killings happen when the victim is attempting to leave the relationship, statewide data show.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
