Victim Foiled Kidnapping By Crashing Car On Thruway

Johuan Ramos of the Bronx pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping, attempted murder and other charges related to the 2016 abduction of his girlfriend at gunpoint, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

She was injured in the course of the crime — mostly because she wrested control of the car from him and was hurt in the subsequent crash, but also because he bit her as she struggled successfully to prevent him from pointing the gun at her as he fired four times.

Due to the crash, the victim suffered a fracture of one of her ribs which pierced her lung causing it to collapse. She also sustained two additional rib fractures and multiple bruises and welts. She was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of White Plains Hospital and discharged three days later.

The terrifying chain of events began in the early morning hours of June 27, 2016 at 2609 Aqueduct Ave. in the Bronx.

Ramos confronted the victim in the elevator of her building and at gunpoint forced her into his car, a black Chrysler 300 sedan. He drove north on the New York State Thruway into Yonkers. He told her he intended to kill her and then himself, and punched her in the head.

As the car approached the Yonkers Toll Plaza, she tried to unbuckle her seat belt in an attempt to flee. He then drove through the toll without paying, reached for the gun he had placed in his lap and pointed it at her.

To avoid being shot, she yanked the steering wheel to the right. The car veered out of control and crashed and she struggled to gain control of the gun as Ramos fired four times. He also bit her arm so hard he pierced her skin. Three shots pierced the windshield and a fourth shot hit the steering wheel.

After the car crashed, he ran into the woods near the Ardsley Rest Area. He led police on a nine-hour manhunt before he was found hiding in a shed in Hastings-On-Hudson.

Ramos pleaded guilty to:

•  one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony,
•  one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,
•  one count of Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,
•  two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class “C” Felonies.
•  one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a “D” Felony.

State Supreme Court Justice Barry Warhit accepted the plea. Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary Clark-DiRusso, Deputy Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Owein Levin of the Special Prosecutions Division.