Family Removes Teen From Life Support As Hundreds Mourn In IE Community

YUCCA VALLEY, CA — Hundreds of people — many of them teens — gathered Friday at Yucca Valley High School to mourn the death of 18-year-old Michael Ramos.

Ramos' family made the gut-wrenching decision that day to remove the teen from the life support system he was on at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

At Friday's vigil, there were tears, hugs, and remembrances for the beloved former Yucca Valley High School star football quarterback whose life was cut far too short.

"The Ramos family has always been involved and given so much to our community with many of our kiddos, whether it is for Yucca Valley Trojans Football, Lobos football/cheer program, Super Nova competitive cheer, and Turkey Bowl," a GoFundMe page for the family reads. "Little Michael has grown up with many of our kiddos. This travesty has hit our community hard, and there are many who are coming together to show love and support for his family."

The page shows a smiling Ramos wearing his Yucca Valley High School graduation cap and his letterman jacket. As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $40,000.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, just before 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, deputies were called regarding a shooting in the 57000 block of Chipmunk Trail in Yucca Valley.

When deputies arrived, they found Ramos suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital in grave condition and was not expected to survive, according to the sheriff's department.

Investigators determined Ramos and a man, later identified as Nicholas Daniel Lee, 29, of Yucca Valley, got into an argument at the party, and Lee shot the teen before fleeing the scene.

Various news outlets reported Ramos was shot in the head as he tried to break up a fight.

"Michael was a hero. He did what he knew he needed to do,” Yucca Valley High School head coach Jeremy Johnson said during Friday's vigil.

Deputies found Lee hiding in the area and arrested him. He was booked into county jail on suspicion of attempted murder. The charge was modified to murder now that Ramos has died, and Lee is being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail, according to county records.