Unreported Burglary Led To Idaho Avenue Shooting

"For Immediate Release"

 

Media Contact: Donna C. Wood, PIO 863.534.6631 or 863.287.9840

03/23/09

Unreported Burglary Led to Idaho Avenue Shooting Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives have learned that an unreported burglary led to the Idaho Avenue confrontation with gunfire in Lakeland, Sunday morning, March 22, 2009. At approximately 1:41 am, Sunday, March 22, 2009, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 128 Idaho Avenue, Lakeland in reference to a reported shooting. Upon arrival, deputies learned that two suspects had an altercation at the residence and gunfire was exchanged. The two suspects had fled the scene before deputies arrived. Witnesses told detectives that 38-year-old Carlos Raul TorresRamos, a Convicted Felon from Puerto Rico, arrived at the Idaho residence to take revenge on 16-year-old Jose Antonio Negron for burglarizing his home on March 16, 2009 - - Negron allegedly stole $4,000.00 in cash, a firearm, and a watch. Torres-Ramos never reported the break-in to law enforcement. Instead, Torres-Ramos went to Negron’s home on Idaho Avenue at approximately 1:30 am Sunday morning to confront the teen. The confrontation erupted into gunfire. When deputies arrived at the Idaho Avenue residence, they learned that Negron, who had been shot in the leg, had been transported by family members to 118 Edgewater Drive in the Carefree Cove subdivision, Winter Haven to avoid arrest by deputies. Torres-Ramos also fled in a 1999 white Mitsubishi Eclipse. Deputies issued a BOLO (be-on-the-look-out) for the suspect vehicle. After leaving the Idaho Avenue crime scene, Torres-Ramos drove to a friend’s residence located 1341 Penny Royal Court, Lakeland, where deputies located his vehicle. A 15-year-old witness, Amandalee Valentin, told arriving deputies that suspect Torres was inside and a perimeter was established.

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Deputies confronted Torres-Ramos identifying themselves as law enforcement, and ordered Torres-Ramos to drop his weapon. When he pointed the gun at both deputies he was fatally wounded and died at the scene at approximately 2:34 am. Detectives also learned that the 15-year-old witness, Amandalee Valentin, helped Jose Negron burglarize Torres-Ramos home just days before. Amandalee provided Negron a book bag to carry the stolen property in and she also received some of the stolen money. She has since been arrested and charged with Burglary, and Grand Theft of a Firearm. She was booked into to the Juvenile Assessment Center later Sunday evening. Also arrested in connection to the March 16th burglary was Negron’s sister, 21-year-old Jessica Negron, and Jessica’s husband, 23-year-old Samuel Rivera. Both are charged with Grand Theft, Possession of a Firearm by Minor with Knowledge, (both knew of the stolen firearm the teen had taken from TorresRamos), and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Both received some of the stolen money from 16-year-old Negron, and both admitted to knowing there was a stolen firearm in the Idaho residence. Both were booked into the Polk County Jail late Sunday evening. Jose Negron faces charges of Burglary of Dwelling, Grand Theft of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, along with an outstanding Juvenile Pick Up Order, for Failure to Appear on a Felony Battery Charge, Resisting without Violence and Trespassing. He was Baker Acted shortly after his arrest, but is currently being booked into the Juvenile Assessment Center. Affidavits and book in photos for Jose and Jessica Negron, Valentin and Rivera are attached to this release.