A father in Las Vegas sacrificed his life to defend his family from a pair of criminals that broke into their home.
The 59-year-old father, named Richard Ramos, was shot dead when he tried to take a gun from the hands of one of the home invaders. Julie Ramos, the mother of the family, was able to escape and survive, but with bruises and stab wounds from a screwdriver.
The two suspects, 27-year-old Cody David Winters and 35-year-old Natasha Galenn Jackson, went on a crime spree that began at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The pair carjacked the freeway service vehicle that had pulled over to assist them along the U.S. 95 freeway.
When the service vehicle's driver walked to the pair, the couple pulled out a knife and a gun, robbing the driver of all his things and forced him to drive to a location that is roughly three miles to the east of the Las Vegas Strip. After getting to the neighborhood, the pair let the driver leave, who then contacted the authorities.
In the police report, Jackson said that she and Winters knocked on the door of the Ramos residence and requested to use the home phone. Once inside, Winters pulled out the gun, as the pair was looking to steal the family's car.
Richard Ramos attempted to take the weapon from the hands of Winters, with Julie Ramos joining in on the altercation.
Jackson said that she stabbed Julie Ramos using a screwdriver, and Winters was able to take control of the gun, he shot Richard Ramos, who soon died at the hospital where he was rushed to.
According to the police, two of the couple's children saw the attack took place.
According to Julie Ramos, the incident was "total terror, trauma, violation."
"I felt raped. I had to fight for my life. My husband fought for us to the bitter end. He was shot. He was stabbed. We saw it," she said.
"I want everyone to know that Richard Ramos is the greatest guy in the world, and I don't want anyone to think he died in vain," said Julie Ramos at a news conference. "He saved his family like the lion that he was."
The crime spree of the pair did not end there, as they then climbed up backyard walls and attempted to force enter into two more houses. Winters then broke a window to enter a house, where he shot the woman living there.
Police tracked the pair to the house, where a standoff ensued. Winters attempted a fake hostage situation, walking out of the house while holding Jackson. Jackson, however, left Winters' hold, forcing Winters to retreat into the house. Jackson was then arrested.
In the second time that Winters came out, he held the woman that he earlier shot in her arms. The woman limped to the ground, prompting officers to shoot at Winters, who died from the gunshot wounds.
The woman was then rushed to the hospital, but was in critical condition.
Jackson is now held on suspicion of attempted murder, murder, kidnapping and burglary, among other charges.
