Yakima police identify suspect in Pleasant Avenue murder | Crime and courts

A 17-year-old Seattle man has been charged in connection with a May 24 homicide in Yakima.

Diego Ramirez was charged in Yakima County Superior Court with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the death of his cousin, Jordan Christopher Brock. Judge Jeff Swan signed an arrest warrant for Ramirez on Friday.

Ramirez was initially charged with illegal possession of a firearm Wednesday in Yakima County Juvenile Court, but that warrant was vacated and the additional charges were refiled in Superior Court. Under Washington law, juvenile courts automatically “decline” jurisdiction in cases where 16- and 17-year-olds are charged with certain crimes, including murder.

Yakima Police Lt. Chad Janis said a new arrest warrant was issued Friday.

Yakima police were called around 6:15 p.m. May 24 to a home in the 900 block of Pleasant Avenue for a person who had been shot. Witnesses told police that Brock, 24, also known as Jordan Christopher Sims, was still inside the home, and officers found him sitting on a hallway floor with a gunshot wound to his hip. and left buttocks, according to the affidavit.

When officers moved Brock, a spent bullet fell out of his clothing, the affidavit states. Brock was taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital before being transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died early the next morning.

Brock's wife told police she heard Brock and Ramirez arguing, the affidavit states, and she heard Brock say, “Take it off, then!” She walked into the living room and saw Ramirez near the front door pointing a gun at Brock and her.

Two of Ramirez's family members managed to get him to put the gun back in his waistband, the affidavit states, and as the woman escorted Brock to their bedroom, Ramirez came up behind them in the kitchen and accused Brock for “hitting” his ex-girlfriend. Brock grabbed the suspect by the shirt and arms, and Ramirez pulled out the gun and she heard a gunshot.

As she reached for her phone to call 911, she heard another gunshot and heard Brock calling for help. The suspect fled the scene, the affidavit states, and police searching the home found two 9mm shell casings in the kitchen and two bullets.

Another witness told police she was communicating with Ramirez on Snapchat when she heard him say, “I'm going to shoot, I'm going to shoot.”

Brock's death was the fourth homicide in Yakima this year, and among eight in the county.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Yakima police at 509-575-6200. Tips can also be left with Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at https://yhne.ws/crimestoppers.