Jade Aliyah Ramirez, 19, died after police say she was intentionally struck by a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old woman in Nampa, Idaho—an attack that authorities say stemmed from a heated dispute over a shared romantic interest.
Background
According to the Nampa Police Department, officers responded at approximately 4:20 a.m. Sunday to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot along Caldwell Boulevard. Authorities found Ramirez suffering life-threatening injuries and rushed her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The confrontation between Ramirez and Alissa Mae Huerta allegedly began in February when Ramirez discovered Huerta was engaged in an intimate relationship with the father of Ramirez's child, court documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman reported.
"She confronted me about being with [the child's father]," Huerta told detectives, according to the probable cause affidavit. "We had been arguing through text and voice messages for months."
The two women reportedly exchanged numerous threatening messages before agreeing to meet in a Nampa parking lot to fight. Investigators allege Huerta and her sister arranged the confrontation.
"I was going to go fight [Ramirez] because she wanted to fight," Huerta's sister told investigators, according to the affidavit.
The Investigation
Police initially said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone with a crime. However, as detectives continued investigating, they learned of "an altercation between Ramirez and the suspect" prior to the collision and ultimately determined that "the act of striking Ramirez with a vehicle was intentional."
Huerta claimed she tried to leave after Ramirez arrived carrying a baseball bat, which struck her Honda several times, shattering the driver's-side window and damaging the windshield. She told detectives she "did not intentionally aim her vehicle at Ramirez."
But witness video and evidence recovered from Huerta's cellphone contradicted that account, police said.
"The front bumper collides with Jade's legs," the affidavit states. "Jade is thrown onto the hood of the Honda, and it appears that her left leg gets stuck in the front driver's side wheel well. It then appears the Honda accelerates while turning and navigating around the adjacent light pole."
The vehicle allegedly pulled Ramirez beneath it, leaving her lying motionless in the parking lot.
The Charges
Huerta was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder. Investigators recovered deleted Snapchat audio recordings from her cellphone that they say contain her confession to the crime.
"I ran her over, though. I'm not going to lie," Huerta allegedly said in one recording.
In a second clip, she can be heard saying: "My sister said like I deada— ran her over."
Huerta appeared in court following her arrest and remained jailed as of Wednesday evening, records show.
Key Takeaways
- Jade Aliyah Ramirez, 19, died after police say Alissa Mae Huerta intentionally struck her with a vehicle in a Nampa parking lot Sunday morning
- The alleged attack reportedly stemmed from a monthslong dispute over the father of Ramirez's child
- Deleted Snapchat recordings allegedly contain Huerta admitting to running over Ramirez: "I ran her over, though. I'm not going to lie."
- Huerta has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody
What's Next
Huerta is expected to face additional court proceedings as the case moves through the judicial system. The Nampa Police Department continues its investigation.