[StBernard] Chalmette murder suspect confesses to attacking brothers, to steal $500, 000 of crystal meth, sheriff says

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette murder suspect confesses to attacking brothers, to steal $500,000
of crystal meth, sheriff says
 By Naomi Martin, Staff writer 
on October 03, 2012 at 5:23 PM, updated October 03, 2012 at 5:54 PM Email |
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A 17-year-old man confessed to shooting his sleeping roommate in the head
early Tuesday and trying to kill the victim's brother with a hammer in an
effort to steal more than $500,000 worth of crystal meth and $32,000 in
cash. All three men involved were undocumented Mexican immigrants who worked
together in dealing large amounts of meth in liquid and solid forms, St.
Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said at a news conference Wednesday.

The murder on Tuesday was the first in St. Bernard Parish in more than a
year, and the largest meth seizure the Sheriff's Office has ever executed,
Pohlmann said.

Jorge Ramirez, who has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted
first-degree murder, and the murder victim, Leandro Morales De La Cruz, 32,
had moved from Red Springs, N.C., to a duplex in the 8500 block of Regiment
Drive in Chalmette, Pohlmann said.

Ramirez told detectives he shot De La Cruz once in the back of the head as
he slept Tuesday about 2 a.m., Pohlmann said.

With the man's corpse still in bed, Ramirez waited in the house until about
11 a.m. for the victim's brother, Martin De La Cruz, 26, who had come to
check on his brother after not being able to reach him on his cell phone.

By that point, various neighbors were outside the house, so Ramirez decided
to forgo the noise of a gunshot and try to kill the younger brother by
hitting him in the head with a blunt object, Pohlmann said. Authorities
recovered a hammer and a car jack stand they believe were used in the
beating.

Martin De La Cruz fought back, eventually escaped, and, bloodied and beaten,
staggered across the street and notified a neighbor, who immediately called
911.

"He was aware neighbors were outside the house. He thought he could handle
it," Pohlmann said. "He didn't count on Martin fighting back as hard as he
did."


Authorities arrived within minutes and set up a perimeter around the
neighborhood to search for the killer. A neighbor called to report seeing
someone under a shed about a block from the murder scene, Pohlmann said.

Deputies found Ramirez hiding under a shed in the 8500 block of Deerfield
Street about 5:45 p.m., officials said.

Once he was taken into custody, Ramirez confessed to the crimes, and he
showed officers a grassy area behind an abandoned house where he and the De
La Cruz brothers had stashed some of their dope.

All told, officials recovered 10 pounds of methamphetamine, which has a
street value of more than $500,000, Pohlmann said.

Ramirez was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison on first-degree murder and
attempted first-degree murder charges.

Martin De La Cruz was treated at the hospital for serious injuries to his
head and body. He was released Tuesday and booked into St. Bernard Parish
Prison on possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.