A Mexican national who had previously been deported was arrested and charged with murder in a multiple shooting incident in Michigan, according to police reports.
Authorities in Alpine Township, a northern suburb of Grand Rapids, charged Gilberto Hernandez-Mendez, 42, with eleven counts, including murder, attempted murder, and weapons offenses, following a February 22 shooting that left one woman dead and two others wounded.
Investigators say Hernandez-Mendez opened fire at an Alpine Township residence around 2:30 a.m. after a domestic dispute. Norma Ramirez-Martinez, 56, was killed in the attack. The suspect’s ex-girlfriend and another woman were also shot, while the ex-girlfriend’s two daughters suffered injuries.
After initially fleeing the scene under a false name, Hernandez-Mendez was captured just over four hours later. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker expressed concern, noting that this marks the third domestic violence-related homicide in the county within a month.
Becker also confirmed that Hernandez-Mendez had previously been deported. He explained that while the charge is federal, the suspect had already been removed from the country before.
The suspect, who has a criminal record, is currently held in the Kent County Correctional Facility under an immigration detainer, meaning he could face deportation after legal proceedings.
Coloma Township Police Officer Tommy Simpson, who played a role in the arrest, told reporters, “It feels good, putting a violent suspect away.”
