Nicholas Lee pleads “not guilty” to murder charges in killing of Michael Ramos

Michael Ramos, the 18 year-old who was the victim of a shooting at a party in Yucca Valley, died from his injuries the day after Christmas.

The Riverside County Coroner said that Ramos died at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday (December 26) at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound. Ramos’ family said that he had been on life-support since he was shot on December 21.

On December 21 at around 9:15 p.m, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 57000 block of Chipmunk Trail for reports of a shooting and found 18 year-old Michael Ramos suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies said that Ramos was involved in an argument with another man, identified as Nicholas Lee, a 29 year-old resident of Yucca Valley. Deputies say Lee shot Ramos and fled the location. Lee was arrested several hours later near the scene of the shooting.

Lee was initially arrested on charges related to attempted murder, but he was arraigned on charges of murder and attempted murder on Friday morning in San Bernardino County Superior Court. The attempted murder charge is related to a second victim, though the criminal complaint does not say whether that victim was injured. Lee entered a plea of “not guilty” to both charges. He is facing enhancements for prior felony convictions. Lee served time in state prison for a 2022 assault.