Samuel Ramirez Jr., 33, was arrested without incident in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, just 73 minutes after being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list—the fastest capture in the program's history. Accused of the 2023 murders of Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke, and injuring a third person in a Washington state bar shooting, his apprehension highlights U.S.-Mexico cooperation.
Samuel Ramirez Jr., 33, born April 17, 1992, in California, became the subject of an international manhunt after allegedly participating in the shooting deaths of Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke, and injuring a third person, at Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way, Washington, on May 21, 2023. He was formally charged on May 24, 2023, and fled to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, before driving to Tijuana, Mexico. A federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued on November 14, 2025. The FBI initially offered a $25,000 reward on December 10, 2025, which escalated to $1 million as Ramirez was added to the Ten Most Wanted list.
Mexican authorities, including the Army, Navy, National Guard, General Prosecutor's Office, Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, and National Migration Institute, detained him during a surveillance patrol in the Altura del Sur neighborhood of Culiacán. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch credited U.S.-provided intelligence for the operation. The FBI's Legal Attaché in Mexico City, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, Federal Way Police, and Mexican law enforcement collaborated seamlessly.
This marked the quickest capture ever, surpassing the 1969 record of two hours. FBI Director Kash Patel stated, "There is no place where fugitives can evade authorities when there is international collaboration." Justice Secretary Pam Bondi praised the bilateral efforts. Mexico's government reaffirmed its commitment to international cooperation.
Ramirez was transferred to the National Migration Institute, deported to the U.S., and arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. He is set to be booked into King County jail and face arraignment in about two weeks. The case echoes the recent arrest of former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, another FBI most-wanted fugitive captured in Mexico after over a year on the run.
