South King Co. arrest : Arrest Made in I-5 Shootings: Marco Antonio Ramos Valdez Identified as Suspect

Accident – Death – Obituary News : New Suspect Arrested in Connection with I-5 Shootings in South King County

At approximately 10:40 p.m. on Thursday night, Dec. 7, 2023, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the shootings that occurred on I-5 in south King County the previous night. Troopers arrested an individual they suspect to be involved in some of the incidents, bringing hope to the community that justice will be served.

The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Marco Antonio Ramos Valdez from Auburn, was apprehended by the WSP troopers. This arrest follows a series of shootings that took place on Dec. 6, 2023, leaving many residents in the area concerned for their safety.

In the first shooting, which occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m., a vehicle traveling southbound on I-5 near S. 320th Street in Federal Way was targeted. The suspect fired a single round through the driver’s window, striking the driver in the neck. Thankfully, the passenger escaped unharmed, and the driver is expected to recover after being transported to Harborview Medical Center.

The second shooting took place at around 9:42 p.m. on northbound I-5 near S. 200th Street in SeaTac. In this incident, the driver of the suspect vehicle fired a round, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Both victims from the first two shootings provided eerily similar descriptions of the suspect and the vehicle involved. They described a light blue Nissan 370z with a large rear spoiler and chrome rims, driven by a white male possibly in his mid-30s. The suspect vehicle was last seen exiting to Interurban Ave in Tukwila.

Two additional shootings occurred later that night. The third shooting took place at approximately 10:27 p.m. on southbound SR 167 near the Ellingson exit. Unfortunately, there is no vehicle description available for this incident. The fourth shooting occurred at 11:40 p.m. on southbound I-5 near S. 320th Street. The driver of a gray mid-2000s pickup fired at another vehicle, but fortunately, no one was injured, and a description of the suspect was not provided.

Two additional incidents were reported on Dec. 7, 2023. The fifth shooting, which took place at 9 p.m., involved a victim traveling from SR 518 to southbound I-5 in Tukwila. The victim’s vehicle was struck by a single round fired from a small car with a loud exhaust. This vehicle may be associated with the first two shootings. Again, no injuries were reported. The sixth shooting occurred between 9 and 10 p.m. on southbound I-5 near the Southcenter area in Tukwila. The victim reported being fired upon by an unknown vehicle but did not sustain any injuries.

The identification of the suspect vehicle was a result of the detailed descriptions provided by the victims, footage from traffic cameras in Tukwila, an alert from the FLOCK system in Auburn, and the diligent efforts of the WSP detectives. Law enforcement agencies throughout the county were promptly informed about the suspect vehicle and the individual involved.

Troopers received information shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Thursday that the vehicle was located in Auburn. Acting swiftly, they found the vehicle parked at an address and observed the driver matching the suspect’s description. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle, troopers discovered a semi-automatic handgun, loose ammunition, and a spent shell casing in the back. The vehicle was impounded and placed into WSP evidence.

The suspect, Marco Antonio Ramos Valdez, was interviewed and subsequently booked into the King County Jail for investigation of Drive-By Shooting and Assault in the First Degree. The WSP believes that the suspect’s actions on the night of December 6th met the very definition of an active shooter. There is reason to believe that the suspect had intentions of committing further shootings, making the arrest all the more crucial in preventing additional victims from being targeted.

This incident marks the 51st shooting that the WSP has investigated in 2023. The WSP urges any additional victims or individuals with information regarding these cases or other crimes on the freeway system to contact them. Detective Haake can be reached via email at [email protected]

The community can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the WSP, along with their allied partners, have diligently worked to ensure the safety of residents. The timely arrest of Marco Antonio Ramos Valdez serves as a reminder of the tireless efforts made by law enforcement to protect and serve the public.

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