Murderer arrested in Mexico just 73 minutes after being added to Most Wanted list

Ramirez Jr., a US citizen accused in the 2023 shooting deaths of two women at Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way, Washington, has now been returned to Washington state after authorities apprehended him in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and deported him to the United States. He was returned to Washington on Wednesday night and is expected to be arraigned in King County Superior Court roughly two weeks after being booked into King County Jail.

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The dramatic arrest marked one of the fastest turnarounds in the history of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted program. Authorities say Ramirez Jr. was arrested without incident on Tuesday, March 10, at 11:13 am Pacific Time, only one hour and 13 minutes after he was announced as the 538th addition to the bureau’s most notorious fugitive list. That broke the previous record set in 1969, when fugitive Billie Austin Bryant was captured two hours after being added.

The arrest capped a nearly two-year search following a deadly shooting at Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way on May 21, 2023, where authorities say Ramirez Jr. was involved in an attack that left Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke dead and a third person injured. Investigators believe Ramirez Jr. fled Washington and then the United States after the shooting. Law enforcement had warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

King County Superior Court issued an arrest warrant on May 24, 2023, after Ramirez Jr. was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree attempted murder. More than two years later, on Nov. 14, 2025, federal prosecutors in the Western District of Washington secured a separate warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, allowing federal authorities to dedicate additional resources to tracking him down.

The FBI intensified its efforts in late 2025, announcing a $25,000 reward on Dec. 10 for information leading to Ramirez Jr.’s arrest and conviction. On March 10, the bureau dramatically increased the reward to as much as $1 million, making Ramirez Jr. the first newly added fugitive to receive the FBI’s new standard top reward amount, up from the previous $250,000. Shortly after that announcement, the manhunt came to a sudden end.

Authorities say Ramirez Jr. was located and arrested in Culiacán just 73 minutes after his name and photo were publicly announced as part of the Ten Most Wanted list, shattering the previous record set in 1969, when fugitive Billie Austin Bryant was captured two hours after being added.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised the swift capture, linking the arrest to the administration’s focus on aggressive law enforcement. “Unlike the prior Administration, this Department of Justice is arresting the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted criminals as quickly as they are added to the list,” Bondi said. “President Trump has unleashed American law enforcement against the worst criminals in our country — Director Patel is doing great work to Make America Safe Again.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest reflected the bureau’s determination to pursue fugitives regardless of where they attempt to hide. “Samuel Ramirez Jr.’s apprehension is a direct result of the FBI’s relentless pursuit of justice for victims and their families,” Patel said. “There is no border, no amount of time, and no place to hide from the full force of the FBI and its partners.”

Neil Floyd, First Assistant US Attorney for the Western District of Washington, said federal charges of unlawful flight helped expand investigative resources and draw national attention to the case. “This case is an example of how a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution can open investigatory avenues and resources to help assist our local law enforcement partners pursue critical prosecutions,” Floyd said. He added that Ramirez Jr.’s addition to the Top 10 list helped bring renewed attention to a case that had deeply affected the local community.

FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington said information from the public played a key role in locating Ramirez Jr. “This capture shows the power of local, federal, and international law enforcement working together, armed with timely and actionable information from the public,” Herrington said. “Assistance from the public quickly helped us learn where Mr. Ramirez was hiding and successfully bring him back to King County to face justice.”

Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang said the arrest marks an important step toward justice for the victims’ families. “We are deeply grateful for the FBI’s partnership and the swift coordination among local, federal, and international law enforcement that led to Samuel Ramirez Jr.’s capture so quickly,” Hwang said. “This arrest is an important step toward justice for the victims, Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke, and toward bringing some measure of closure to their families and our community.”

The FBI credited its Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, along with Mexican authorities, including the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), and the National Migration Institute (INM), for helping coordinate the apprehension. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington also assisted in the effort.