FBI adds Samuel Ramirez Jr. to Ten Most Wanted in connection with 2023 Federal Way double homicide

Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced on Wednesday that Samuel Ramirez Jr. has been added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives list in connection with a May 2023 double homicide at Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way and asked the public to submit tips that could lead to his arrest.

"We will not rest until the killer, Samuel Ramirez, is in custody and justice is served," said Chief Andy Wong of the Federal Way Police Department, who described how officers responding at about 3:31 a.m. found three people shot in the bar's parking lot. Two employees, identified in the record as Jessica Hone, 36, and Katie Dunkey, 38, died at the scene; a 25-year-old male customer survived.

Mike Harrington, special agent in charge of the FBI's Seattle field office, said Ramirez has been a fugitive since he fled to Tijuana following the shootings and that investigators have not had any verified recent sightings. "Today, we're announcing the addition of Samuel Ramirez junior to the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitive list," Harrington said, and added that the Ten Most Wanted designation raises the potential reward associated with his capture to up to $1,000,000 (an increase from a previously announced $25,000 tip reward).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Crystal Correa said the federal filing charges Ramirez with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution to enable federal assistance while the underlying murder charges remain under state jurisdiction. "We brought the unlawful flight charge federally because we believe he has fled internationally," Correa said, adding that the complaint indicates Ramirez may have fled to Mexico but that his location is currently unknown.

Officials described the evidence linking Ramirez to the crime as including business surveillance video, eyewitness accounts and electronic communications. Chief Wong said the suspect assaulted the two women in the parking lot, then produced a gun and opened fire. "We had video evidence, eyewitness account ... and electronic evidence and communication that link Ramirez to this crime," Wong said.

Harrington urged anyone with information to submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI and cautioned the public not to attempt to apprehend Ramirez. The FBI provided identifying details on a wanted poster, including a distinctive lion tattoo on Ramirez's right wrist and forearm, an estimated height of about 6 feet and weight of about 200 pounds, and ties to locations including Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Compton, Calif.; and the Mexican states of Jalisco and Sinaloa. The poster will be distributed in English and Spanish.

Reporters asked whether motive was known; Harrington deferred to the police chief, who said the encounter began after an escalating confrontation in the bar and that an intervening customer tackled Ramirez before Ramirez produced a firearm. On the question why this case rose to the Ten Most Wanted list, Harrington cited both the "exceptional violence" in the killings and the difficulty of locating the suspect nearly three years after the event.

The FBI said it will post the wanted poster and photographs on its website and will provide the press release and attachments by email. Officials reiterated that anyone with information about Ramirez's whereabouts should contact the FBI or their nearest local law enforcement agency.