Judge Recommends Jail Transfer of 2015 Road Rage Homicide Defendant to GED Block

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At the defense’s request, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sent a recommendation to the DC Jail for a homicide defendant to join a program to receive GED training.

Oscar Ramos, who was arrested when he was 32-years-old, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting two victims on May 28, 2015, on Interstate 295 at Exit 1 in Southwest DC. Police suspect the motive was road rage. One of the victims, 50-year-old Pedro Alvarado, was pronounced dead on the scene. The other victim was treated for life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Ramos was charged on April 20, seven years after the shooting occurred.

During a hearing on Aug. 4, Ramos’s defense attorney Rachel McCoy requested that Judge Raffinan send a recommendation to the DC Jail, where Ramos is currently detained, for Ramos to be transferred to the GED block.

The GED and Adult Basic Education Services at the Department of Corrections (DOC) offer inmates structured educational programming to enhance their academic skills and prepare them to take the GED exam to receive a high school-equivalent degree.

“Especially considering how Mr. Ramos is going to be detained for a long period of time, he can only benefit from studying and taking advantage of the resources at the block,” McCoy said.

Defendants usually get transferred into the GED block by submitting an application to their case manager. However, McCoy told Judge Raffinan that Ramos could not fill out the application or speak to his case manager due to language barriers. .

Judge Raffinan also scheduled Ramos’ trial to begin on March 18, 2024.

The prosecutor told Judge Raffinan he would not offer a plea agreement to the defense and expected the trial to last approximately seven days.

Ramos’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 8, where parties will discuss potential DNA testing.

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