(Courtesy of the Washington State Patrol.)

(Courtesy of the Washington State Patrol.)

Freeway shooter charged for attacks on I-5

Suspect remains in jail on $1 million bail.

Prosecutors charged a man for two shootings in a series of freeway shootings on Dec. 6 in South King County on Interstate 5 that targeted multiple vehicles, injuring one.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged 28-year-old Marco Antonio Ramos-Valdez, an Auburn man, in two of five shooting incidents on Dec. 6 on Interstate 5 targeting vehicles.

Ron Mead, Captain of the Washington State Patrol, stated at a press conference that a sixth freeway shooting on Dec. 6 — an incident on Southbound Interstate 5 near South 320th Street in Federal Way involving the driver of a gray mid-2000s pickup truck firing at the victim — appeared to be unrelated.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Ramos-Valdez faces two felony counts of assault in the first degree for two shootings, including one resulting in the driver of a vehicle sustaining a gunshot wound to the neck.

“Additional information may come from the State Patrol. Their investigation is ongoing,” McNerthney stated in his email. “If we receive additional information, prosecutors will act on it with the same urgency.”

The Washington State Patrol has tied Ramos-Valdez to two freeway shooting incidents, Mead said at the Dec. 8 press conference.

“While we’re confident that we’ll tie him to additional shootings, we’ve not yet got anything with the others — just the first two,” Mead said.

Prosecutors stated both shootings were done randomly and without provocation in charging documents. The random shootings served as a high public safety risk, prosecutors stated.

Ramos-Valdez remains in jail on $1 million bail as requested by prosecutors, according to McNerthney’s email.

The court scheduled Ramos-Valdez’s arraignment for Dec. 21 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Bellevue police interviewed Ramos-Valdez after his arrest. Ramos-Valdez indicated to police that about nine months ago he started to hear voices threatening to kill him. He said to police he armed himself with a gun from his brother’s room less than a week prior to the freeway shootings.

Ramos-Valdez indicated the voices identified specific vehicles that served as a danger to him on Dec. 6, according to documents.

Ramos-Valdez’s sister confirmed that he expressed hearing voices, estimating the voices started five months ago.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the man who was shot in the neck sustained non-life threatening injuries, with the victim in stable condition and expected to make a recovery.

The passenger of the vehicle in the incident, a pregnant woman, sustained no injuries. She was transported to Saint Francis Medical Center for a healthcare check for her and her fetus.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

A man places his ballot into the drop box outside Federal Way City Hall. Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
SAVE Act could disenfranchise millions of voters

Congressman reports law could cost Washingtonians over $361 million just to register to vote.

t
Judge dismisses petitions to recall 2 Kent School Board members

Group wanted to recall Meghin Margel and Tim Clark

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 25 to April 6

Incidents include attempted bank robbery, cable wire theft, DUI arrest, parking lot robbery

Courtesy Photo, Kent Police
New 3-year contract gives Kent Police officers pay boost

Hikes of 16% and 17% in 2025 compared to 2022; beginning salary at $96,306 with annual increases

t
Kent man wanted in reported DV case now presumed to be on the run

Kent Police initially believed the man had died in fire; seek public’s help to find Avon Cobb

t
Grand reopening of Kent Commons Community Center on May 4

City of Kent spent $1.5 million to upgrade facility

t
Meeker Middle School teacher receives state award

WEA recognizes Neeraj Agnihotri with Human and Civil Rights Award for Student Involvement

t
Protest against Trump, Musk draws hundreds in Covington

Rally on April 5 part of global protest in response to numerous actions by president

Cars drive northbound through the intersection of Southeast 192nd Street and 140th Avenue Southeast in Fairwood. An 18-year-old was driving over 100 mph southbound through this intersection on March 19, 2024 when his car hit a minivan, resulting in the deaths of one woman and three minors. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Kent man who killed four in Renton crash pleads guilty to all charges

Chase Jones faces up to 23 and a half years in prison. His sentencing is set for April 25.

File Photo
Kent City Council approves Stay Out of Drug Areas zone

Nine organizations signed letter opposing new ordinance as ‘not an effective option’

t
Slower is safer: Steps to increase traffic safety in South King County

11-mile corridor has a high number of collisions, many of them fatal.