Press Release
Man Who Pointed Gun at Sikeston Officer Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a convicted felon from Sikeston, Missouri who pointed a gun at a police officer to 168 months in prison.
Ruben R. Ramirez, 27, pleaded guilty in August to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Ramirez admitted as part of his plea that an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was responding to a reported burglary on March 8, 2023, when he spotted Ramirez walking away. Ramirez raised a silver-colored .22-caliber pistol and pointed it at the officer before dropping the gun when the officer drew his own firearm.
In a later interview, Ramirez said he tried to fire the pistol because he wanted the officer to kill him, but his gun jammed.
Ramirez has a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon in a 2021 case in New Madrid County Circuit Court.
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
Contact
Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.
Updated July 19, 2024
Topic
Firearms Offenses
Component