Hilario Hernandez Ramirez, 44, was found fatally shot in the neck in downtown Watsonville on the night of July 13, 2014. Police discovered Ramirez at 30 W. Beach Street on a Sunday night; he was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived. Authorities treated the circumstances as suspicious and opened a homicide investigation.

Investigators followed leads but reported limited witnesses and few concrete tips. Ramirez had been arrested on June 19, 2014, by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff on charges including resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer, assault upon a peace officer, and trespassing by driving on private property; police considered his recent legal trouble as part of the overall inquiry. No arrests had been announced in connection with the killing.

Anyone who knew Ramirez, was in downtown Watsonville that night, or has information about the shooting is asked to contact investigators.