By J. Harry Jones
Lonnie Ramos
|
An Orange County man who shot his estranged wife and kidnapped his 9-year-old son Wednesday may be in the San Diego County area driving a large motor home, authorities said.
Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Bieker said Lonnie Ramos, 46, has a girlfriend in the North County and told the man who rented him the motor home that he was planning on taking some day trips within Southern California.
An Amber Alert is in effect throughout California for Ramos, who is believed to be driving a 39-foot purple-and-gold Fleetwood Providence motor home with the license plate number 5EGW556.
Ramos allegedly jumped out from behind a car or bushes and shot his estranged wife in the face and abdomen with a semiautomatic weapon on Wednesday when she drove to his home in the Portola Hills area of Lake Forest to pick up their son, Ryan, for a custody exchange, police said.
Ryan Ramos
|
The 41-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, was critically wounded but is expected to survive.
“For someone that was shot twice, she's doing better than could be expected,” Bieker said.
The victim's friend and a 4-year-old girl were also in the car Wednesday, but were uninjured.
The department said Ramos and his son were seen later that day trying to buy plane tickets at John Wayne Airport.
Authorities said Ramos should be considered armed and dangerous. Border Patrol agents have been notified in case he tries to head for Mexico.
It is also possible Ramos is driving two other vehicles: a white two-door Chevrolet Suburban (license plate 5LTC712) or a red Porsche convertible with a black top (license plate 4BWU827).
J. Harry Jones: (760) 737-7579;
jharry.jones@uniontrib.com
