In a last-second arrest at Washington Dulles International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers apprehended a murder suspect, Christofer Antonio Argueta Ramirez, 19, just as he prepared to board a flight to El Salvador. Ramirez, a U.S. citizen from Woodbridge, Virginia, was wanted in connection with a 2022 murder in Prince William County, Virginia. Authorities say he was attempting to flee the country with a one-way ticket in the early hours of Sunday morning.
CBP officials noticed that Ramirez had booked the one-way ticket on an El Salvador-bound flight departing from Dulles around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Acting quickly, officers intercepted him at the departure gate, confirmed his identity, and escorted him back to CBP’s inspection station, where he was turned over to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police and subsequently taken into custody.
“CBP continues to work with our law enforcement partners to help capture dangerous fugitives and return them to face justice,” said Marc E. Calixte, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C. Ramirez’s arrest underscores CBP’s role in intercepting fugitives trying to cross U.S. borders, officials said, with an average of 44 arrests made daily at various checkpoints.
The charges against Ramirez stem from a 2022 murder case involving the death of Jose Guerrero, a young man whose body was found in a wooded area in Adelphi, Maryland. Guerrero’s killing, originally tied to a robbery attempt that turned violent, had previously seen two other suspects arrested. Police allege that Ramirez and a then-17-year-old accomplice, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his age, intended to rob Guerrero during a drug deal in a Woodbridge parking lot. However, the transaction escalated into a brutal stabbing that left Guerrero mortally wounded. Following the incident, the suspects allegedly transported Guerrero’s body to a secluded area in Maryland and then returned his car to Virginia.
The case took an unexpected turn earlier this year when a lack of evidence led to the dismissal of charges against Ramirez, the younger suspect. The news of his release left Guerrero’s family devastated, and his mother, Andrea Salgado, expressed concerns for public safety. “My heart dropped,” she told reporters. “They’re letting a murderer walk the streets. I’m in fear, and others should be in fear too.”
However, recent developments in the investigation prompted Prince William County police to re-arrest Ramirez, leading to his capture at the airport. Ramirez’s attempted escape, authorities believe, highlights the importance of cross-agency cooperation. The case has reignited discussions about the handling of evidence and judicial decisions in complex murder cases, particularly those involving minors or re-arrested suspects.
Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth has not yet commented on the new charges or the circumstances leading to the re-arrest. However, the case remains under intense scrutiny as authorities work to ensure justice is served.
The timing of Ramirez’s arrest, just before his departure, underscores the vigilance of CBP officers and the ongoing dedication of law enforcement agencies to apprehend suspects before they can evade the legal system. For Guerrero’s family, the arrest brings a renewed hope that the justice system will finally hold those responsible for their son’s death accountable.
