By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Michael Raul Ramirez

WARSAW — A Warsaw teenager has officially been charged following a shooting in early April.

Michael Raul Ramirez, 19, 540 E. Main St., Warsaw, is charged with aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; intimidation with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and two counts of pointing a firearm, all level 6 felonies.

On April 8, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a shooting at 139 E. Baker St. Upon arrival, the officer saw a man with a gunshot wound lying on the ground. The residence’s homeowner said the shooter, later identified as Ramirez, was behind the home.

According to court documents, Ramirez had an abrasion on the top of his head with a moderate amount of blood around it. Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and took the man with a gunshot wound to a nearby hospital. Ramirez and three witnesses were taken to the Warsaw Police Department for interviews.

In an interview with officers, a man said Ramirez sent him messages, which led to the man going to speak with Ramirez.

Ramirez allegedly pointed a firearm at the man, victim, and two other individuals and threatened to kill the man while waving the firearm around.

Ramirez then threatened to shoot everyone in the group, resulting in the victim and Ramirez fighting, with Ramirez shooting the victim.

After Ramirez shot the victim, the man fought Ramirez to take control of the firearm and felt the barrel graze against his abdomen. The man grabbed the firearm and secured it in a nearby vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ramirez hit the victim while he was laying on the ground and did not provide any first aid. The man said he fought Ramirez and threw a pair of brass knuckles onto the residence’s roof.

Ramirez told officers the man sent him threatening text messages and loaded a firearm once he saw two people outside of his home with their hoods up. He said the victim swung a fist at him, leading Ramirez to push the victim and shoot the firearm.

One of the witnesses said the man received threatening messages from Ramirez, leading the group to go to Ramirez’s residence to confront him. The witness heard a gunshot and saw Ramirez waving a firearm, threatening to shoot again. When she heard the victim yell that he was shot, she called 911.

The shooting victim said he told Ramirez to put the gun away multiple times, but that Ramirez did not do so and shot him in the back. The bullet lodged itself in the victim’s lung.

On April 10, a Warsaw detective searched the man’s phone and found a video from April 8, depicting Ramirez holding a firearm and making threats.

Ramirez has already been arrested and released on his own recognizance.