Kersean Ramey

Timeline

• 01/31/2007 — Kersean Ramey was sentenced to death; TDCJ Number: 999519.
• 08/24/2005 — Kersean Ramey and a codefendant went to a residence in Jackson County and fatally shot three victims in the head with a .22 caliber handgun.
• Jan 25, 2007 — A Victoria County jury sentenced Ramey to death for his part in the shooting deaths of three Edna residents in 2005.
• 11:20 a.m. Tuesday — Judge Stephen Williams issued the verdict in the courtroom.
• Last week — Ramey was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting deaths of Samuel Roberts, Tiffani Peacock, and Celso Lopez.
• about 20 minutes Tuesday — The jury decided that Ramey should be sentenced to death.

Background

Kersean Ramey received his sentence on January 31, 2007. He was 21 years old when received and 20 years old at the time of the offense. He completed 11th grade. He was Black and male. His hair color was Black, his height was 5' 10", his weight was 152 lbs, and his eye color was Brown. His native county was Victoria and his native state was Texas. His prior occupation was laborer. His prior prison record was none.

The offence

On August 24, 2005, in Jackson County, Kersean Ramey and a codefendant went to the residence of an 18 year-old white female, a 24 year-old white male and a 38 year-old Hispanic male. Ramey and the codefendant fatally shot each of the victims in the head with a .22 caliber handgun.

Ramey and codefendant Norman LeJames Race were described as forcing their way into the home. Samuel Roberts, 24; Tiffani Peacock, 18; and Celso Lopez, 38 were killed inside their Edna home on Aug. 24, 2005.

The jury found Ramey guilty of capital murder in the shooting deaths of Samuel Roberts, 24, Tiffani Peacock, 18, and Celso Lopez, 38, inside their Edna home on Aug. 24, 2005.

Investigation

The prosecution described the killings as occurring during a forced entry by Ramey and Norman LeJames Race, and argued that the crime was not simply a botched robbery. Eli Garza stated that it was an “execution.”

Trial

The trial was moved from Jackson County to Victoria County on a change of venue request.

Ramey was standing with his hands in the pockets of his black trousers as Judge Stephen Williams issued the verdict about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday. The jury decided that Ramey should be sentenced to death after about 20 minutes.

Ramey’s sentence was issued after he was found guilty last week of capital murder in the shooting deaths of Samuel Roberts, 24, Tiffani Peacock, 18, and Celso Lopez, 38, inside their Edna home on Aug. 24, 2005.

Victim impact statements

After the sentence was read, Linda Coker stood with other family members in the courtroom and spoke through victims' impact statements. Linda Coker was the mother of Samuel Roberts. She said:

"At one time, I needed for someone to say they were sorry for what they took from me. I no longer need that."

Linda Coker also said:

"I picked out a crib and a coffin for my son," she said. "Your mother will have to do that and it is your fault."

Her husband, Steve Coker, echoed her words and added:

"I encourage you to get to know Jesus. That is the only hope you have."

Waynette Hons, Peacock's grandmother, said:

"We know where they are ... They were saved. She is happy in heaven. I pray you will find God."

Linda Coker was one of 4 family members allowed to speak to Ramey through victims' impact statements.

Closing arguments and disputed responsibility

Jackson County District Attorney Bobby Bell placed a framed photo of Peacock and Roberts on a table near the jury and said:

"I think it is right that you remember those folks," Bell said. "These are the people that aren't here to speak. These are the people that won't have any wedding plans."

Bobby Bell recounted briefly the horrific scene inside the home and described the details of how prosecutors said the killings occurred when Ramey and Norman LeJames Race forced their way into the home. Bobby Bell said:

"He put the gun on Celso Lopez's head. Can you imagine what was going through his head knowing death is seconds away," Bell said.

Bobby Bell also said:

"What did (Ramey) say to LeJames Norman prior to the robbery? 'If someone gets out of line, I'm going to pop them.' That is his heart. That tells you what his actions will be."

Eli Garza, first assistant district attorney in Victoria who assisted Bell in the trial, said:

"It was an execution," he said. "If it was a robbery gone bad, Celso would have come over here and told you about the wound to his cheek. Sam and Tiffani would have told you how scared they were."

Eli Garza approached the jury box and said:

"Imagine being this close as he pulled the trigger," Garza said.

Eli Garza said:

"Imagine going up to a girl that is laying down and you put the muzzle up to her temple so hard it bruises it. "

Eli Garza also said:

"Does that sound like someone insensitive to someone's feelings? Does that sound like someone insensitive to someone's rights?"

Defense attorneys maintained their stance that it wasn't Ramey who shot the three people but instead it was Norman LeJames Race. James Evans III said:

"We recognize that a decision has been made by this jury and Kersean Ramey has been found guilty,"

James Evans III said and held up evaluations and physiological reports from when Ramey was about 5 years old, saying:

"What we attempted to show is he had a problem," Evans said as he picked up other, later evaluations.

James Evans III said:

"He was being disciplined at school but not at home."

James Evans III said:

"You will find that Mr. Ramey was suffering from moderate emotional disorder," Evans said.

James Evans III said:

"He was inconsiderate or insensitive to the rights and feelings of others ... He was resistant to authorit y... He was impulsive."

James Evans III also said:

"We are still looking at an 8-, 9- and 11-year-old kid ... He sees the world as a dangerous place ... He feels the need to be cautious of himself,"

James Evans III said:

"The defense's theory is that this child, 8 and 9 years old, never received the kind of assistance or attention he needed to succeed in life."

James Evans III said:

"Evans did not place the blame upon the school system, which he said helped with dyslexia training and ensuring that he stayed on his medication."

James Evans III said of the Victoria Independent School District:

"The Victoria Independent School District did what it could to help Kersean Ramey," Evans said of the time Ramey attended Victoria schools.

James Evans III also said:

"Instead, Evans put blame partly, as least, on a lack of morals and a rough family life."

James Evans III said:

"He didn't get any help about the world being a dangerous place," Evans said. "He didn't get any help with his emotional problems."

James Evans III said:

"No single fact or circumstance would cause a person to be involved in this triple murder."

James Evans III said:

"it was everything combined that led him down his path, which early testimony included not only the triple killing but also a school break-in and 4 home burglaries."

James Evans III said:

"Just maybe if he had counseling ... had he gotten help with those problems ... perhaps he would not have been involved in the school burglary,"

James Evans III said:

"Much of this is not his fault. Each of us have been given the power of choice by a divine being ... but there are those of us in our society that need help in those decisions."

Bobby Bell said Ramey received counseling after his assault conviction that stemmed from the sexual assault of a 7-year-old boy when Ramey was 16. Bobby Bell said:

"All he could do as the tears ran down his cheek was shake. He spoke, 'This will be with me the rest of my life.'"

Bobby Bell also said:

"That is serious mitigating circumstances that scarred those kids for the rest of their lives."

Bobby Bell said Ramey's evaluations did not carry enough weight to overpower what he did the night of Aug. 24, 2005, and said:

"On the basis of that diagnosis ... you are supposed to reduce blameworthiness," Bell said. "That is not reducing blameworthiness. That is shifting blameworthiness."

Sentencing phase arguments

Last pleas were made by Willie, defense co-council. Willie went over the evidence, including a stabbing tool found in Ramey's Jackson County cell, presented during the 3 days of testimony in the sentencing phase. Willie said:

"In assessing his moral blameworthiness ... we are not making excuses but mitigating circumstances are what they are,"

Willie said:

"We believe in this case there has been no proof he will be a danger to society."

Willie also said:

Bobby Bell disagreed and reminded jurors of an expert's testimony who said that Ramey's past was that of someone who would continue down an unlawful path.

Willie said no one testified to seeing Ramey make the weapon. Willie also said:

"In assessing his moral blameworthiness ... we are not making excuses but mitigating circumstances are what they are," Willie said.

Bobby Bell pleaded with the jury for a death sentence and said:

"If he gets life, I pity the people who come in front of him,"

Bobby Bell said:

"He is going to kill and destroy without a moment's notice ... He doesn't give a 2nd thought to stealing and killing. "

Bobby Bell said:

"If he gets the death penalty, then you are sending him to the highest security level (prison)."

Attorney Joseph Willie II represented Ramey. He said after the trial that he would handle the appeals process, which was automatic with the death sentence.

Judge Stephen Williams issued the verdict.

Sentencing

Kersean Ramey was sentenced to death. After the sentence was read, family members delivered victim impact statements.

Appeals

Joseph Willie II said he would handle the appeals process, which was automatic with the death sentence.

Outcome

The Victoria County jury sentenced Ramey to death for his part in the shooting deaths of three Edna residents in 2005.

Other details

The subject and codefendant were described as going to the residence of the victims: an 18 year-old white female, a 24 year-old white male and a 38 year-old Hispanic male. The victims were Samuel Roberts (24), Tiffani Peacock (18), and Celso Lopez (38). The killings took place inside their Edna home on Aug. 24, 2005.