Teen suspected of stray bullet killing New York mom believed to be hiding in Dominican Republic: cops

A 17-year-old boy, believed to be hiding in the Dominican Republic, is the alleged shooter responsible for the tragic stray bullet murder of an innocent mother in Manhattan last month, police officials said Thursday.

Manuel Ramos, 17, is wanted in connection with the December 26 shooting that killed 64-year-old mother-of-three Valeria Ortega, NYPD Chief James Essig told reporters.

Ortega, also a grandmother of three, was walking to a supermarket near her home in Inwood with her son the day after Christmas when she was hit in the head by a stray bullet.

Police say Ramos was riding in a car with two other people who were going to get marijuana when he fired from a window at a scooter he believed was following him, hitting Ortega instead.

Detectives traced the car and were able to get Ramos’ name from two others who were in the car, Essig said.

“The two in front said they were going to buy marijuana on 207th Street,” Essig said. “When they drive there, a scooter follows them. Unbeknownst to them, Manuel has a gun, he turns around, fires his gun through the window and hits our 64-year-old.”

Manuel Ramos, 17, has been identified as the alleged shooter who killed 64-year-old mother Valeria Ortega in Manhattan last month.
Manuel Ramos, 17, has been identified as the alleged shooter who killed 64-year-old mother Valeria Ortega in Manhattan last month.
Facebook/Valerie Ortega

Police have discovered that Ramos left for the Dominican Republic on January 1 and are currently trying to track him down in the Caribbean to seek his extradition.

Ramos has already been arrested once on December 6 for illegal possession of stolen property.

NYPD at the scene of a shooting in Manhattan on December 26, 2022.

NYPD at the scene of a shooting in Manhattan on December 26, 2022.


Ramos is believed to be hiding in the Dominican Republic.

Ramos is believed to be hiding in the Dominican Republic.


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According to police, Ramos fired from a car window and hit Ortega.

According to police, Ramos fired from a car window and hit Ortega.


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He flew to the Dominican Republic without a return ticket.

Ortega — an Inwood resident for the past three decades who also left her 101-year-old mother behind — was remembered by her grieving husband as “generous and kind” beyond belief.

“[She was] Buenicima is a very good woman, a loving mother,” Vincente Garcia told ABC-7 Eyewitness News shortly after her death.

“[She was] generous and kind almost too much for her own good.”

Ortega was walking to the supermarket when he was shot.
Facebook/Valerie Ortega
Grandmother was remembered by her husband as a “generous and kind” person.
Facebook/Valeria Ortega

Heartbreaking photos on her Facebook page show Ortega, who has two adult daughters in addition to a son in his 20s, enjoying her vacation and adoring her family.

Her last public post in September was for her mother’s 101st birthday.

“Happy birthday mom,” Ortega wrote alongside a photo of her elderly mother posing with pink balloons.

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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