FAYETTEVILLE -- Defense attorneys say a Springdale teen charged with first-degree murder and two counts of battery regarding a shooting in March 2015 was acting in self-defense, but prosecutors say he went too far.
Springdale police found another teen, Fabian Rodriguez of 2406 Trudi Place, with a gunshot wound in the yard of 32 Applegate Drive on March 13, 2015. Rodriguez, 18, was pronounced dead at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale.
Savannah Smith, 21, and Juan Araujo, 14, arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds shortly after the shooting, police officers testified Monday. Police have described the shooting as being gang-related.
Hector Saul Ramos, 18, pleaded innocent to all charges. Ramos was 17 when he was arrested. Prosecutors chose to charge him as an adult. His trial before a jury of eight women and four men started Monday in Washington County Circuit Court.
Documents filed leading up to the trial say Ramos was acting in self-defense when several individuals came to his home about 3 a.m. Evidence is expected to include a machete and a 4-foot iron pipe left at the shooting scene along with knives and clubs found in subsequent searches.
In opening statements Monday, Justin Hurst, representing Ramos, told jurors Ramos was awakened by people outside his apartment banging on the window and threatening him. Ramos' mother, two younger brothers and baby sister were inside the apartment.
"It is not disputed that Hector Ramos pulled the trigger of that .357 handgun shortly after 3 a.m.," Hurst said. "Hector Ramos was protecting himself and others in his home. They came to maim, kill and cause serious damage. He stopped the threat."
Ramos fired a gun through the open window three times and hit two people, police said, but the incident did not end there. Ramos chased the two teens outside and fired more shots, police said. He shot into a car where Smith was waiting in the driver's seat, according to police.
The seven-shot, .357 Magnum Tarus revolver Ramos used was later found thrown down a storm drain about 50 yards from his apartment. Ramos told police at the scene the gun "did not exist." The machete was found in the yard near Rodriguez, according to police.
John Snyder, assistant prosecuting attorney, said there is no dispute Ramos shot and killed Rodriguez and shot and wounded Smith and Araujo.
"This case is about crossing lines," Snyder told jurors. "Fabian Rodriguez, Savannah Smith and Juan Araujo did not cross a line. This defendant did cross a line as to Fabian Rodriguez, Savannah Smith and Juan Araujo."
Araujo, who was shot in the left forearm and shoulder, testified Monday that he and Rodriguez went to Ramos' residence to fight with him because Ramos had been in a fight earlier with one of their friends. Araujo said he did not know his friend's last name and did not know what the earlier fight was about.
Hector Trejo and Ulises Manjarrez also went along, Araujo said. After breaking into a convenience store and stealing beer, the group drove around awhile before going to Ramos' apartment, he said.
"We wanted to get down. We wanted to fight," Araujo said. "We told him to come out and fight with us. That's it."
Araujo said he was behind Rodriguez, who was about 3 feet from Ramos' window on the back side of the apartment, when a light came on and shots rang out. Araujo was hit once as he ran for the car and was shot again when he reached the parking lot. Rodriguez was found in Ramos' yard.
Neither had a gun, according to Araujo, but blood and the 4-foot pipe were found in the parking lot.
"You took this to go bash his face in and you don't know what Fabian Rodriguez was going to do with a 2-foot machete?" Hurst asked Araujo on cross-examination.
"Whatever came to mind," Araujo said.
Trejo, 17, of Rogers is in jail charged in an unrelated case with capital murder in the stabbing death of Eliazar Torres, 21, of Springdale, who was stabbed twice in the neck during an early-morning altercation at the Scottish Inns & Suites on Jan. 10. Manjarrez, 19, is charged with aggravated residential burglary in connection with that fight.
Ramos faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder. The battery charges carry prison terms of five to 20 years each.
Ramos is being held in the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $250,000 bond.
State Desk on 05/03/2016