Cousin arrested in shooting of Madras girl, 13

Dec 28,2007 00:00 by Cheryl McDermott

A California man was arrested Thursday for assault and reckless endangering in connection with what police believe to be the unintentional shooting of his cousin, a 13-year-old Madras girl.

Josue Ramirez-Romero - JCJ photo

Madras Police officers responded to the West Side Elementary School, closed for the holidays, on Christmas Eve about 1:45 p.m. to a report of juveniles with a gun and a shooting, Detective Tanner Stanfill said.

Arriving officers found the victim, 13, with a gunshot wound in her left upper thigh. Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services personnel transported her to Mountain View Hospital, where, as of Thursday, she remains for treatment, a news release stated.

Statements from the victim, suspect, and four other juvenile witnesses indicate the shooting was unintentional, Stanfill said.

Josue Ramirez-Romero, a 19-year-old Santa Ana, California resident and a cousin of the victim, was arrested on December 27 about 12:30 p.m. He was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail and is charged with discharging a firearm on school property, fourth-degree assault and reckless endangering, the detective said.

The firearm was reportedly found at another location and recovered by officers, Stanfill said. The investigation is continuing to identify ownership of the gun.