Undocumented immigrant charged with murder in woman's death on US-131
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man who entered the United States illegally has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 25-year-old citizen of Mexico, could face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole in relation to Ruby Garcia's death, according to Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker and an ICE spokesperson.
He has been arraigned on the following charges: felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearm.
Garcia, 25, from Grand Rapids was found dead with gunshot wounds on southbound US-131 and Leonard Street NW on Friday, state police said.
Garcia and Ortiz-Vite were in a vehicle together when she was shot and killed, Becker said.
The two were in a romantic relationship, according to Becker.
"This is the worst case domestic violence scenario," Becker said.
On Sunday, Ortiz-Vite contacted Allegan County Central Dispatch to be questioned for her death, according to Michelle Robinson, Michigan State Police Sixth District Public Information Officer.
Allegan County deputies and Michigan State Police troopers located Ortiz-Vite at a location on 68th Street, near 122nd Avenue, in Fennville and took him into custody, Robinson said.
On Sunday, Ortiz-Vite was booked in the Kent County jail on outstanding warrants from 2020.
Police are not new to Ortiz-Vite as he has had several run-ins since 2017, including drunk driving and illegal entry into a residence, according to court records.
Ortiz-Vite was arrested on Aug. 31, 2020 and was ordered by a judge to be removed from the United States, according to an ICE spokesperson.
At an unknown date and location, Ortiz-Vite entered back into the United States without inspection by an immigration official, the spokesperson said.
At Tuesday's press conference, Becker said that it is hard to get people to help police when an illegal immigrant is involved in such a scenario.
“There is that circle of violence and control, and one of the things about control is now you have this immigration status and what pressure that puts on the victims in terms of not cooperating with police and not helping law enforcement," Becker said. "We have two cases now that have resulted in homicides.”
The judge denied bond Tuesday for Ortiz-Vite , who is awaiting his next court date and further action from ICE.