The aftermath of a fatal shooting involving a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy has escalated, with the family of Jefte Vargas Ramirez filing a $30 million wrongful death claim. The tragic incident took place on December 16, 2024, when Ramirez, age 37, was confronted by deputies near the Metrolink tracks between Nevada and California streets in Redlands. As reported by KTLA, Metro workers initially alerted authorities to a man trespassing on the rail lines around 7:30 a.m.
During the encounter, authorities claim Ramirez became confrontational and appeared aggressive, leading one deputy to discharge their weapon. However, attorney Dale Galipo, representing the Ramirez family, has vehemently challenged this account, stating a witness's cell phone video showed Ramirez with outstretched arms, posing no immediate threat before being shot. CBS Los Angeles reports the video indicated Ramirez was unarmed at the time of the shooting, faced with numerous bullet wounds, "including several to his back."
The claim, seeking both punitive and general damages, as well as compensation for funeral and burial expenses, suggests the force used was excessive and objectively unreasonable. "The shooting was excessive and objectively unreasonable, particularly because at the time of the shooting, Mr. Vargas Ramirez was unarmed and posed no immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to the deputy or to anyone else," according to the claim acquired by FOX 11. It further denounced the officers for failing to provide medical assistance to Ramirez after the shooting.
The family of the deceased, including his two daughters and siblings, is not only seeking financial retribution but is also calling for increased accountability within the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "We are demanding justice," the family said in a statement obtained by CBS Los Angeles. "Justice is not just for us, but so that no other family has to go through this. So that no father has to bury his child. So that no child grows up without a father. So that no mother has to mourn the loss of her child at the hands of those who should be protecting us."
As the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department continues its investigation, no comments have been made regarding the status of the deputy involved in the shooting. The statute of California allows for 45 days for the Sheriff's Department to respond to the family's claim before they proceed with a lawsuit. According to KTLA, once this window closes, the family's legal representation has indicated they will file in federal court alleging violations of federal and state law.
