Moments after fatally wounding a 23-year-old Centralia man after responding to a domestic violence report on the morning of Jan. 12, veteran officer Ruben Ramirez lamented the violence, which came just weeks before his planned retirement.
“Why?” Ramirez asked while speaking to a deputy at the scene. “F-ck. Just trying to get out. Nine shifts left. That’s all I f-cking had, man. I hope that dude’s gonna be fine, man. He’s just a … kid. Just stupid. What was he thinking?”
Alecandro Castaneda died at the scene after suffering gunshot wounds to his left thigh and chest following a physical altercation with Ramirez.
Those are just some of the details included in the 61-page final case report issued by the Washington state Office of Independent Investigations on Thursday. The new office was created by the Washington state Legislature in 2021 to conduct independent investigations of deadly uses of force by police. The office began its work in the southwestern part of the state, with plans to expand to all of Washington in the years ahead.
The lengthy report details evidence collected from 911 calls, officer body cameras, interviews with witnesses and law enforcement, and the scene itself.
The findings of the investigation have been forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, which would be the final authority in determining whether charges are filed in the case.
A summary of the investigation details the events that led to the shooting, the gunfire itself and the subsequent investigation.
Officers were dispatched to a report of a physical domestic disturbance at an apartment complex at 401 Ash St. on the morning of Jan. 12. The caller had reported that Castaneda had pushed her and was breaking doors in the apartment.
“Inside the apartment, Officer Ramirez encountered Castaneda at the doorway to a bedroom,” the case report states. “Officer Ramirez told Castaneda he was under arrest and to go outside. Castaneda said no. When Officer Ramirez attempted to take Castaneda’s arm, Castaneda pulled away and retreated into the bedroom. Officer Ramirez drew his Taser and ordered Castaneda to the ground. Castaneda did not comply and initiated a physical encounter. During the struggle that ensued, Officer Ramirez discharged his Taser and fell or was pushed to the floor.
“While on the floor, Officer Ramirez drew his firearm and fired it twice. Both shots struck Castaneda, one in the left thigh and one in the chest. Castaneda was pronounced dead at the scene by medics after life-saving measures were attempted.
The Washington state Office of Independent Investigations was notified of the incident at 11:21 a.m., about 21 minutes after Ramirez reported that shots had been fired. Members of the investigative team collected Ramirez’s Taser and firearm as they assumed authority over the incident that day.
The final case report details the 10:55 a.m. 911 call that precipitated the police response, with the caller indicating that Castaneda needed to be removed from the home because he was pushing her and had broken doors in the apartment. The caller noted that she was pregnant and that her 6-year-old son was in the home.
Ramirez told dispatch he arrived at the scene at about 10:59 a.m., about four minutes after the initial call. Leaving his K9 partner in his vehicle, Ramirez walked directly into the apartment, according to the case report. He quickly encountered Castaneda and implored him to exit the residence, according to the report, but Castaneda refused.
Ramirez unholstered his Taser and pointed it at Castaneda. That’s when Castaneda suddenly moved forward across a bed toward Ramirez and appeared to swipe at the Taser in Ramirez’s left hand, according to investigators. A physical struggle ensued between the two men, who were between a bed and a wall.
“It appears from (body-worn camera) video that, during the struggle, Officer Ramirez fell, chest down, onto the floor in the east corner of the bedroom,” investigators wrote. “Officer Ramirez supported himself by placing his left hand on the floor approximately six seconds into the physical altercation. Loud grunting can be heard. From the (body-worn camera) video, it appears Officer Ramirez rotated to his left, while still near the floor. A shot can then be heard. This is approximately eight seconds from the time Castaneda appeared to swipe at Officer Ramirez’s Taser and the physical altercation began.”
A second shot rang out moments later as the physical altercation continued. Ramirez reported “shots fired” on the radio just after the second gunshot was heard on the recording.
Another officer arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and assisted Ramirez in attempting to render aid to Castaneda.
“Glove up. He’s been shot twice,” Ramirez told the officer, according to the case report. “One low and one up high. Um, he attacked me. I tased, I tased him when he attacked. He was on me and then after that he had me in a headlock and reaching, reaching for my gun. The gun was dropped and I picked it up and shot him.”
Ramirez and the second officer rolled Castaneda onto his back to render aid, with Ramirez identifying the gunshot wounds in Castaneda’s chest and leg. Ramirez obtained a medical supply kit from his vehicle, including a chest seal. A deputy checked for a pulse as Ramirez prepared the chest seal.
“Pulse is faint. Pulse is faint,” Ramirez said. “Come on guys, let’s try to save this guy.”
Riverside Fire Authority medic units entered the apartment shortly thereafter and took over efforts to resuscitate Castaneda. The efforts stopped at 11:48 a.m.
Castaneda died at the scene.
Ramirez, who had a bloodied lip, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital by ambulance. He was placed on leave during the investigation, per department policy.
Ramirez retired alongside his K9 partner, Pax, at the end of January.
Read the full case report online at https://tinyurl.com/354k687c.
It was the second fatal shooting Ramirez was involved in during his time with the Centralia Police Department. In 2014, he shot and killed Paul M. Edmundson. He was shot by Ramirez after police say he pulled a gun out of his pocket during a physical fight with Ramirez and the officer’s former police dog, Lobo, near the Chevron gas station on the corner of South Tower Avenue and East Cherry Street. The prosecutor’s office determined Ramirez’s actions were justified.
Ramirez served with the Centralia Police Department for more than 23 years. He trained and worked with multiple police service dogs in the past, including K9s Lobo, Vida and Pax.
In addition to serving as a police officer, Ramirez was also heavily involved with many local nonprofit efforts, including the Lewis County Law Enforcement Torch Run and Icicle Brigade polar plunge events benefiting Special Olympics Washington.
