Suspect in murder of Michael Ramos Jr. returns to court

Adeline J. Wells Adeline J. Wells Send an email July 1, 2026

Nicholas Lee returned to court yesterday (06/30) morning for an early disposition hearing before Judge Sarah Oliver. 

Lee is the suspect in a shooting from 2025 that resulted in the death of eighteen-year-old Michael Ramos Jr. On the evening of December 21, 2025, Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a party in Yucca Valley, where they found Ramos suffering from a critical gunshot wound. Ramos was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs; after several days, he was taken off life support and died from his injuries on December 26. 

District Attorney Douglas Poston represented the prosecution at yesterday’s hearing. Attorney Antonio Bestard represented the Conflict Panel for Lee, who is in custody. A conflict panel is a group of private attorneys assigned to criminal cases when a conflict of interest exists between the defendant and the public defender’s office. Bestard told Judge Oliver that the defense needed additional time to prepare their case and requested that the hearing be delayed until August. Judge Oliver scheduled an Early Disposition Hearing for August 13. 

Nicholas Lee is charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder related to a second victim. He is currently held at the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center on $2,500,000 bail.

Adeline J. Wells Adeline J. Wells Send an email July 1, 2026
Adeline J. Wells

Adeline J. Wells

Adeline J. Wells is a reporter and on-air DJ at Z107.7. A native of the Midwest, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies. When not writing, she enjoys desert drives, learning to play the banjo, and going dancing.