Hesperia, California

From the Victorville Daily Press of February 3, 2006

Man cleared in double homicide

Detectives say Armando Ramos acted in self-defense

A man who has been in hiding since a homicide a month ago surrendered to sheriff's detectives, who then released him after determining the killing was in self-defense, officials said Thursday.

On Wednesday, Armando Anthony Ramos, 24, who was being pursued in connection with a New Year's Day double homicide, agreed to meet San Bernardino County Sheriff's homicide detectives at the Hesperia sheriff's station.

A few hours later he walked out a free man with a clear name.

"He was scared to death ... up until the point he walked out the front door he thought we were going to arrest him," Sgt. T.A. Peters of the sheriff's Homicide Division said.

Around 7:37 a.m. Jan. 1, two men were shot inside a home in the 10300 block of Cottonwood Avenue. According to investigators, Johnny Alfred Hernandez, 27, shot and killed Joseph Aaron Wyatt, 23, following a fight at the home.

Peters said that Hernandez then came after Ramos and an unnamed friend who witnessed the shooting. Acting in self-defense, Ramos armed himself with a nearby shotgun and fired several rounds at Hernandez before hitting him in the chest.

"He basically shot Johnny before Johnny could kill him," Peters said.

Hernandez continued out the front door and fired one round from a semi-automatic handgun back into the house before he collapsed on the lawn, where he died still clutching the gun, officials said.

At the time, Ramos fled and authorities spent a month trying to locate him before he turned himself in Wednesday.

"We always believed during the course of the investigation that he had a self-defense issue, based on witness statements from the scene. We'll package our case up and present it to the District Attorney's office in Victorville. But we believe he acted in self-defense and in the defense of others," Peters said. "The DA is not likely to press charges."

Peters said that since Hernandez — who would be linked to the murder of Wyatt — is already dead, the interview and release of Ramos concludes their investigation into the double-homicide.