An undocumented immigrant from Mexico residing in Utah has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly slitting a woman’s throat.
Jesús Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla faces charges of attempted murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, and possession of drug paraphernalia, linked to an incident that occurred on March 18 in Salt Lake City. According to the Department of Homeland Security, local authorities have been asked to honor detainer requests related to the case.
The victim remains in critical condition at a hospital, although her identity hasn’t been revealed.
Lauren Biss, Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS, described Ramirez-Padilla as a dangerous criminal, emphasizing the severity of his actions. “We are urging politicians not to release this violent individual back into communities,” she stated.
Reports indicate that both Ramirez-Padilla and the victim had been using methamphetamine before the attack. Police responded to cries for help in an alley, where they discovered the woman with a significant injury to her neck.
Surveillance footage from a nearby home apparently assisted in identifying Ramirez-Padilla. When arrested, he reportedly had blood on his hands and clothing.
It’s noted that Ramirez-Padilla met the victim the night prior and they took drugs together before the violent incident. He later admitted to strangling and attacking her, attributing his mental state to the effects of the drugs.
As of Tuesday, it was unclear whether he had secured legal representation while being held in Salt Lake County Jail.
This charge comes in the wake of several serious crimes allegedly involving undocumented immigrants. Notably, Jose Medina-Medina, from Venezuela, was recently charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman.
According to reports, Gorman was fatally shot while walking by a lakefront with friends last Thursday.
Additionally, in late February, there was high-profile news surrounding another undocumented individual, Abdul Jallow, who was charged with murder following a stabbing in Fairfax County, Virginia.
