FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Samuel Ramirez Jr. Captured in Mexico Only Minutes After List Announcement

A fugitive wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in Washington state has been captured in Mexico in what federal authorities say is the fastest apprehension in the history of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program.

Samuel Ramirez Jr., 33, of Federal Way, Washington, was taken into custody without incident on March 10 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. According to federal officials, the arrest occurred just one hour and thirteen minutes after Ramirez was publicly announced as the 538th individual added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

The rapid capture broke the previous record for the shortest time between placement on the list and arrest. That record had stood since 1969 when fugitive Billie Austin Bryant was apprehended two hours after being added to the list.

Authorities said Ramirez was located through coordinated efforts between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies after information surfaced quickly following the public announcement.

Federal investigators had been searching for Ramirez in connection with a violent shooting that occurred on May 21, 2023, at the Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way, Washington. According to investigators, the incident left two women dead and a third person injured.

The victims were later identified as Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke.

Prosecutors allege Ramirez opened fire inside the establishment during the incident. After the shooting, investigators believe he fled both Washington state and the United States in an attempt to evade arrest.

Three days after the attack, the King County Superior Court issued a warrant charging Ramirez with murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and attempted murder in the first degree.

Federal authorities later became involved when Ramirez was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. A federal arrest warrant was issued in November 2025 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The case gained national attention when the FBI placed Ramirez on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, a designation reserved for individuals considered especially dangerous or difficult to capture.

Originally, investigators had announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Ramirez’s arrest. As authorities intensified their efforts to locate him, the FBI increased the potential reward to as much as $1 million, making Ramirez the first newly listed fugitive to receive the program’s updated standard reward level.

The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program has operated since 1950 and relies heavily on public awareness to help law enforcement locate suspects who have evaded capture. Over the decades, the list has become one of the most recognizable law enforcement initiatives in the United States.

Of the 538 fugitives who have appeared on the list since its creation, more than 500 have ultimately been captured or located. Federal officials say a significant number of those arrests occurred after members of the public provided tips following national publicity.

Ramirez was taken into custody through coordination between several law enforcement agencies operating across international boundaries. Authorities credited the FBI’s Seattle Field Office along with the FBI’s legal attaché office in Mexico City for assisting in locating and apprehending the suspect.

Mexican law enforcement agencies also participated in the operation, including the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana, the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, and the Instituto Nacional de Migración.

Following his arrest, Ramirez was deported to the United States to face the charges pending against him in Washington state.

He returned to Washington shortly after his capture and is expected to appear in King County Superior Court for arraignment once the booking process is completed. The arraignment is expected to occur approximately two weeks after his transfer to the King County jail system.

Authorities had previously warned that Ramirez should be considered armed and dangerous while he remained at large.

Investigators say the speed of the arrest demonstrates the impact that national publicity and coordinated international law enforcement operations can have when attempting to locate fugitives who flee across borders.

The prosecution of the homicide charges will be handled by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

As with all criminal proceedings, the charges against Ramirez represent allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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