Jul 3, 2008 12:25 am US/Pacific
Man Suspected Of Shooting Wife, Kidnapping Son
LAKE FOREST, Calif.
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Lonnie Ramos is suspected of kidnapping his 9-year-old son, Ryan, after shooting his estranged wife.
CBS
An Amber Alert has been issued for a man suspected of shooting his estranged wife in the face and kidnapping their 9-year-old son during a custody handoff in Lake Forest. The suspect may be driving a 39-foot motor home, a sheriff's spokesman said on Thursday.
Lonnie Ramos, 44, allegedly shot his wife around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday outside of 19662 Torres Way, where the two were scheduled to meet so Ramos could return the boy to his mother in a custody exchange, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The woman was shot through the windshield of a vehicle with a 40-caliber gun. She was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive.
"As the victim drove up to the address, the suspect either jumped out from bushes or from behind the car, opened fire on the victim's vehicle, striking the victim at least one time," Amormino said.
Ramos then took his son, Ryan Ramos, and drove off, prompting a statewide Amber Alert, he said.
A friend of the woman and the friend's 4-year-old daughter were also in the car but were not hurt, he said.
Although shot in the face, the woman was able to drive away before her friend took over the driving, he said.
Paramedics took the woman to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Amormino said.
Authorities initially reported Ramos might be fleeing with the boy in a Porsche convertible or Chevrolet Suburban SUV.
A witness later told authorities that Ramos rented a purple and gold Fleetwood Providence motor home with license plate number, 5EGW556, Amormino said.
Investigators are also checking out reports that Ramos made an unsuccessful attempt to buy plane tickets at John Wayne Airport, Amormino said.
Ramos' roommate, Randy Jick, told reporters that Ramos and his son had just spent an enjoyable week together.
He said Ramos lost job in sales several months ago, and was not able to pay bills. The house Ramos bought with his friend three years ago was being sold in a short sale.
"They've been going through probably one of the nastiest custody battles I've ever seen," Jick said. "It's affected me through them two, and the pacing back and forth and Lonnie is happy, he's sad, he's happy, he's angry, he's angry, he's sad. There are restraining orders, cops at our door, cops at her door. I finally got to the point that I was done."
The roommate said he was planning to move out of the house this Sunday.
Jick told reporters that Ramos has family in Dallas, Texas, but was not close to them. He said Ramos loves his son, and he does not believe Ramos would harm the boy.
Ramos could also be traveling with the child in a 1992 red Porsche 944 convertible with a black top, California license plate 4BWU827. Earlier, authorities also released the description of another vehicle, a 2004 white Chevy Suburban, California license plate 5LTC712.
Ramos is 6 feet 3 inches tall, 180 pounds, and has brown hair. He was last seen wearing a tan baseball cap, blue shirt and khaki pants.
Anyone who may have seen any of the vehicles or has information on the
suspect or the child was urged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 628-7170.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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