Suspect identified in murder of 2 Federal Way bartenders believed to have left Washington

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — We now have the name and photo of a man who police say killed two workers at a Federal Way bar and police believe he has fled the state.

On May 25, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged 31-year-old Samuel Ramirez Jr. with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Ramirez Jr. is accused of fatally shooting bartenders Katie Duhnke and Jessyca Hohn, and wounding a man outside Stars Bar & Grill on May 21.

When the bartenders reportedly confronted Ramirez Jr. about bringing a gun to the bar, it escalated into a confrontation in the parking lot, where he hit one of the two women, according to probable cause documents.

Charging documents said Ramirez Jr. was then tackled by another man, who said that he held the suspect down until the suspect, who was later identified as Ramirez Jr., told him he was done fighting. After he let Ramirez Jr. up, the suspect shot and killed Duhnke and Hohn, prosecutors say.

Duhnke was shot first, in the head. Ramirez Jr. then fired multiple shots into Hohn’s back, according to court documents.

The man who tackled Ramirez Jr. was the third to be shot as he ran away.

Both women died at the scene. The man was hospitalized and survived.

Both Duhnke and Hohn were loved at the bar. Their manager, Danielle Macready, said they were amazing people and teammates.

“I think that everybody watching right now is — and everybody who is involved in this whole entire community — everybody is going to be at risk until he goes to jail,” said Macready. “This was literally someone who knew them. He was their friend and he did that to them.”

There is now a memorial inside the bar for both women as police continue tracking Ramirez Jr. down.

It’s unclear where Ramirez, Jr. is right now, but prosecutors say his cell phone data shows he left the state after the shooting.

Detectives said they spoke to a woman who had been dating Ramirez Jr. He texted her, saying he made a big mistake, had to leave, and told her to Google what happened.

Ramirez Jr., is Hispanic, 6 feet tall and weighs 200 pounds.

Police said anyone who sees Ramirez Jr. should not approach him and should call 911 immediately.

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