THE 21-YR.-OLD SON OF A WACO, TEXAS, FIREFIGHTER was arrested and charged yesterday for his father’s murder and arson of his home on November 11. The McLennan County Sheriff’s deputies took custody of Ramonell Stephens, 21, at the burn unit in Parkland Hospital in Dallas and transferred him to the county jail where he is being held on $2 million bond.
According to investigators, the incident began around 10 pm Wednesday, November 11, when Stephens entered his father’s house and shot him in the head. Stephens then took a can of gasoline and poured it over and around his father’s body and around the house. When he lit the fuel, there was an explosion that set Stephens on fire and destroyed the house, leaving Ramonell James’ body burned beyond recognition. James had been a Waco firefighter for 28 years.
Ramonell James
Stephens, while seriously burned from head to toe, got in his car and started to drive away, but a short ways down the road he couldn’t travel any further and stopped where he was found by a Texas Public Safety officer moments later. Stephens told the officer that he had just shot someone and blown up his house. The officer also found a .40-caliber pistol in the car.
An autopsy Friday identified James, 55, as the victim and confirmed that he had died from the gunshot wound before he was set afire. The Waco Tribune REPORTS:
In a statement taped by sheriff’s investigators, Stephens admitted again that he shot his father and poured gasoline on his body, on his bed and around the house before setting it on fire. Investigators found gasoline on his shirt, pants and shoes, according to another complaint to support the arson charge.The murder complaint alleges that Stephens bought a handgun at a local pawnshop the day before his father was shot. Also, in the days leading up to the incident, Stephens reportedly bought a gas can, gas, black work gloves and Kingsford lighter fluid at various area stores.
Both charges are first-degree felonies, punishable by up to life in prison.
Ramonell Stephens’ mug shot on the left was
taken following a previous arrest.
The Waco Tribune also tells:
The five men he regularly worked with at the Imperial Drive fire house had to do their jobs Friday without him.
“It was hard to come to the station this morning,” said Lt. Jeff Pruitt Friday afternoon. “We’re going to do our jobs, and protect the public and try to go about our day. But today is not a normal day. We’re all trying to wrap our heads around what happened to Ramonell.”
The men, who normally pray before each meal, included James and his family in each prayer Friday, Pruitt said. They also hung his helmet in the fire engine so he’d be with them everywhere they went.
Read the related Waco Tribune stories HERE, HERE, and HERE.
KXXV-TV filed this video report, which has some fire footage, yesterday:
Also on FireGeezer…
- A Marriage Made in Heaven — Not! – September 12, 2010
- Updated: FF’s Targeted by Arsonist in Vegas – November 13, 2011
- Washougal Standoff Update #2 – December 13, 2011
- Arsonist Sentenced Ten Years Later – October 17, 2011
Recent Comments