A Stockton Police officer investigates the scene after a vehicle involved in a suspected bank robbery was stopped on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Stockton, Calif.
This Thursday, July 17, 2014, booking photo provided by the Stockton Police Department shows Jaime Ramos, 19, who was booked on suspicion of homicide, kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder in a Stockton, Calif., bank robbery that led to a high speed chase.STOCKTON, Calif. – A 19-year-old California man was charged Monday with three counts of murder in the deaths of a hostage and two alleged accomplices, and 22 counts of attempted murder of police officers in a bank robbery and running gun battle.
A judge read a total of 35 felony counts to defendant Jaime Ramos involving the robbery on Wednesday at a Bank of the West in Stockton.
The charges, including kidnapping and robbery, could make Ramos eligible for the death sentence if convicted. He is also charged with being a gang member, carjacking and evading police.
It remained unclear who fired the fatal shots in the robbery-shootout. However, California law allows murder charges to be considered against anyone involved in crimes in which someone is killed.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Himelblau said his office won’t decide whether to seek the death penalty until much later in the legal process.