Federal Way Double-Murder Suspect Captured in Mexico Record One Hour After Joining FBI Most Wanted List

Samuel Ramirez Jr. was arrested in Mexico just 73 minutes after joining the FBI's Most Wanted list for a 2023 Federal Way double murder.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 4:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Olympian

A Historic Apprehension in Culiacán

The FBI Seattle field office announced a record-breaking capture on Thursday, confirming that Samuel Ramirez Jr. was apprehended in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, a mere one hour and 13 minutes after being added to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. This marks the fastest arrest since the list’s inception in 1950, shattering the previous record held by Billie Austin Bryant, who was caught two hours after his 1969 addition for the murder of two FBI agents. Ramirez, a U.S. citizen who had eluded authorities since May 2023, was located following what officials described as "timely and actionable information from the public."

The May 2023 Federal Way Shootings

The charges against Ramirez stem from a violent incident outside the Stars Bar and Grill in Federal Way. Prosecutors allege that Ramirez shot and killed two bartenders, Katie Duhnke (37) and Jessyca Hohn (36), and injured a third patron during the attack. Following the killings, Ramirez was believed to have fled across the border to Mexico. The case remained a top priority for the Federal Way Police Department, which worked alongside federal partners to track the suspect’s movements over the past three years.

Inter-Agency and International Cooperation

W. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle field office, credited the capture to the seamless coordination between local, federal, and international law enforcement. The operation involved the FBI office in Mexico City, Mexican authorities, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. While the FBI had offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest, officials did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the tip that led to the rapid identification of his hiding spot in Sinaloa.