FRESNO - On January 18th, at 8:40 PM Stacie Gonzales experienced the worst day of her life. Seeing her baby girl shot and killed right in front of her own eyes. Something that no parent should ever have to go experience. Since the tragic and senseless murder of Janessa Ramirez the Fresno Police Department's Street Violence Section under the leadership of Lt. Mark Salazar has worked tirelessly on this case, literally working around the clock.
The Fresno PD has had as many as 40 detectives working this case as well as having the assistance of the US Marshalls, DOJ, and Gilroy Police Department. Although there is still work to be done on this case, Chief Jerry Dwyer is pleased to announce the arrest of two individuals for the murder of 9 year old Janessa Ramirez.
Brian Lorrice Cooks (22) of Fresno was arrested on January 28th for parole violation, interviewed and booked into FCJ on a parole violation. Isaac Kordell Stafford (19) of Fresno was arrested on January 29th at 10:40 pm and interviewed by detectives. At 12:30 Friday morning both Cooks and Stafford were charged with the murder of Janessa Ramirez.
Investigators have determined that Stafford and possibly a second person left a residence at 2531 No. Marks (NW of Marks and Clinton) Rosss Gardens driving a gray 2 door Dodge Challenger. They travelled SB Marks at a low speed. They saw Brian Cooks riding a skateboard NB on the sidewalk west of Marks and north of Clinton. Cooks and Stafford are rival gang members.
Immediately an exchange of gunfire erupted between Cooks and the occupants of the Dodge Challenger. Approximately 4 rounds came from the vehicle. A red vehicle parked on the west side of Marks was struck 4 times. Cooks was crouched down behind this vehicle.
Cooks also fired at Stafford and the second person in the vehicle. The only round fired by Cooks missed the intended target traveled approximately 270 yards and struck Janessa Ramirez in the stomach. Janessa was standing in front of a laundry mat.
Janessa told her mom she felt a burning in her stomach and fell to the ground where her mother Stacie held her. Janessa was taken to CRMC but could not survive her injury.
The Dodge fled SB on Marks and WB on Clinton out of the area. Cooks ran through the apartment complex out of the area.
Based on the investigation it appears the reason for the feud between Cooks and Stafford stems from a shooting that occurred in 2012 at Ashlan and Parkway. The person arrested for that shooting (Deondre Robinson) and sent to prison was an associate of Cooks . Stafford was a key witness in that case. Since that time, Stafford was posted on Facebook as a snitch.
During this investigation we received 44 tips. 10 of those tips provided key information that identified Cooks and Stafford as being involved in the shooting. Both Cooks and Stafford were followed by SVS TAC team and the US Marshalls task force in Fresno and Gilroy for the past week.
Extensive surveillance allowed us to identify several locations where search warrants were served. Six search warrants were served. Five in Fresno and one in Gilroy where Stafford was living since January 5th.
On January 28th during the surveillance of Cooks and a second suspect, 22 year old Devonta Murphy were detained. Murphy was found to be in possession of a 9 mm handgun which is believed to be the weapons used by Cooks to shoot Janessa. That firearm is currently being tested by DOJ.
Murphy was arrested for being ex felon in possession of a firearm and parole violation. Cooks had taken steps to change his appearance by cutting his hair, and letting his facial hair grow. Cooks was questioned for several hours by Investigators. Ultimately Cooks admitted to firing one round toward Stafford, and missing. He knew it was the round he fired that struck Janessa. Fresno Police have substantial evidence to corroborate that.
Cooks also said the gun recovered from Murphy was the gun he used. The reason he only fired one round was that the gun jammed.
Stafford was also questioned by detectives after being arrested in Gilroy. During the five hour interview. Stafford did ultimately admit to being in the Dodge Charger when the exchange of gunfire occurred. Police are currently looking for a third individual who may or may not have been with Stafford during the night of the shooting.
1600 hours of investigative time was expended during this investigation with more to follow.
