A Phoenix man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2022 murder of his girlfriend, whom he killed as she tried to leave an abusive relationship, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Jermaine Houston, 40, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of weapons misconduct for the killing of Racal Monique Ramos, 36. Prosecutors said Ramos was gathering her belongings and speaking with a domestic violence shelter to find a safe place to go when Houston shot her multiple times inside their apartment near 27th and Glendale avenues.
Police responded to a report of threats involving a firearm on August 23, 2022, and arrived as the situation turned deadly. A friend who was helping Ramos pack tried to defuse the confrontation, but Houston went back inside and opened fire after seeing officers approach. Ramos was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Houston fled the apartment but was quickly captured by police hiding in a nearby backyard.
“Domestic violence destroys families in an instant,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a statement. “Too often, children are left to carry the trauma of what they’ve witnessed, and survivors face impossible choices about their safety.”
Ramos’ four children managed to escape the apartment during the shooting, police said.
Mitchell added that her office remains committed to “standing with victims, pursuing justice, and working to break this cycle of violence in our community.”
The case serves as a tragic reminder of the deadly risks faced by victims attempting to leave abusive relationships—a time experts say is often the most dangerous for survivors seeking safety.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support.
