Most Wanted Suspect Espinoza Headed to Court

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Thursday for a man charged with shooting his ex-girlfriend in the head, neck and chest while her 4- year-old child was present.

Ramiro Espinoza, 35, was one of San Diego County's top 10 most wanted fugitives when he was arrested after a roughly eight-hour SWAT standoff in Imperial Beach last July.

He is charged with attempted murder, corporal injury to a spouse or roommate and other counts in connection with the attack on his ex-girlfriend last May 24 in San Ysidro. The 28-year-old victim was hospitalized in critical condition but survived. Her child was unhurt.

Espinoza was arrested in the 300 block of Elkwood Avenue about 1:15 a.m. July 26. A deputy responding to a report of gunfire about 5:10 p.m. the previous day chased after Espinoza, who jumped a fence and temporarily got away, according to San Diego County sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell.

Deputies sealed off the area, evacuated about two dozen homes and searched door-to-door until Espinoza was found and arrested. He faces 40 years and four months in prison if convicted.

A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether the prosecution presented enough evidence to warrant ordering Espinoza to stand trial.

—City News Service