Hundreds gather for vigil honoring former YVHS QB killed in shooting
YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Members of the Yucca Valley community are holding a vigil for Michael Ramos Jr. on Friday. Ramos, 18, was taken off life support Friday after sustaining injuries from a shooting at a party on Dec. 22.
Friends and family gathered to share memories of Ramos and speak about who he was as a person, his coaches taking an extra step to remember his life.
"To see everybody that cared so much for him, you know, he touched a lot of lives and for everybody to keep his spirit alive like that. The coach says they're going to keep him his 13, retire his jersey for the 13," said Christina Barreto, Ramos' grandparent.
The shooting was reported Sunday at around 9:50 p.m. on the 57000 block of Chipmunk Trail.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the shooting was at a party. Ramos was involved in an argument with another man, identified as Nicholas Daniel Lee, 29, of Yucca Valley. Lee allegedly shot Ramos and fled the location.
Lee was found hiding in the area and arrested. He was charged on Wednesday with murder, attempted murder, among several other charges, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Friday. Lee remains in custody on $2 million bail.
After the shooting, Ramos was placed on life support, where the family reported through a GoFundMe page that he was not expected to survive. During the vigil, it was announced he was taken off life support.
"I left him a voicemail too. On his phone and he put it on his Instagram when I heard it the other day, it kind of like hit me hard, but you know what he's he's in a better place right now," said Anthony Morales, Ramos' grandparent.
The family says they're unsure of what the future looks like, but they hope the community continues to remember this hometown hero. Live life to the fullest.
"Live life to the fullest. That's what Michael would want, AKA Froggy. Live life to the fullest. That's, that's it. Live the way he lived," said Jesse Barreto, Ramos' grandparent.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on the case.
