News

D.C. man found guilty of 2015 drive-by shooting that killed Alexandria man and wounded another

An Alexandria police cruiser (Staff photo by James Cullum)

A 35-year-old D.C. man was found guilty yesterday for a 2015 drive-by shooting that killed an Alexandria man and wounded another, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Oscar Ramos was found guilty yesterday in federal court of first degree murder while armed for the May 28, 2015 shooting death of 50-year old Pedro Melendez Alvarado. He was also found guilty of assault with intent to kill by wounding 56-year old Miguel A. Rodriguez Carabantes.

The Washington Post first reported the verdict.

The incident occurred on northbound Interstate 295 near exit 1 in southwest D.C., and the victims were driving to work. The U.S. Department of Justice said that Ramos is an MS-13 gang member, and was a passenger in a car that pulled up alongside the victims.

“The defendant and another passenger in the car with him opened fire on Mr. Alvarado’s car, struck the victims, then pulled away,” DOJ said in a release. “The defendant and Mr. Alvarado are both from El Salvador. The defendant believed Mr. Alvarado was somehow involved in the death of the defendant’s father, years earlier, in El Salvador.”

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department made the announcement of the verdict.

Ramos will be sentenced on July 12.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.