Phoenix police arrest 21-year-old suspect in 2019 west Phoenix killing of 18-year-old Ethan Derivera

Arrest announced more than six years after fatal shooting

Phoenix police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the 2019 shooting death of an 18-year-old in west Phoenix, closing a major gap in a case that had remained unresolved for more than six years.

The suspect, Kevin Ramirez, was booked into the Maricopa County jail and faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Police said the arrest was made after detectives located Ramirez on January 21, 2026.

What investigators say happened on October 21, 2019

Police said the shooting occurred on October 21, 2019, shortly before 8:30 p.m., in a parking lot near 70th Avenue and McDowell Road in west Phoenix.

Officers responding to a report of shots fired found the victim, Ethan Derivera, seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with a gunshot wound. Derivera was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Charges filed and what remains undisclosed

Jail records list the accusations against Ramirez as first-degree murder and armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Arizona law allows first-degree murder charges to be filed in multiple circumstances, including allegations of premeditated killing or felony murder tied to certain underlying crimes. Authorities have not publicly specified which theory prosecutors intend to pursue in this case.

Police also have not released details describing what evidence led detectives to Ramirez, what investigative steps generated the lead in late January 2026, or whether additional suspects were considered during the investigation. Officials said the case remains under investigation.

Key facts made public so far

• Victim: Ethan Derivera, 18.
• Date of shooting: October 21, 2019.
• Location: parking lot near 70th Avenue and McDowell Road, west Phoenix.
• Suspect: Kevin Ramirez, 21, booked into the Maricopa County jail.
• Arrest date announced by police: January 21, 2026.
• Charges: first-degree murder and armed robbery with a deadly weapon.

What happens next in the criminal process

Following booking, the case will proceed through initial court appearances where a judge addresses conditions of release, representation, and scheduling. Prosecutors typically present allegations through a complaint and/or seek a grand jury indictment in felony cases, after which the matter advances through pretrial hearings and potential trial settings.

Authorities have not released the investigative details linking the suspect to the 2019 killing.

Police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact Silent Witness.