Police arrest man in two LA drive-by killings

A Los Angeles man wanted for investigation of two drive-by killings in California was arrested Tuesday morning when officers rousted him and girlfriend from a motel room in a seedy area.

Roberto Franklin Ramirez, 21, exited the Thunderbird Motel after police called his room and told him to surrender.

He was wanted in the June 6 drive-by slaying of Teresa Del Rio, a 20-year-old psychology student at Glendale Community College, and a Feb. 14, 1998, killing in Hollywood. Details of that case were not immediately available.

Ramirez and his girlfriend, identified by police as Nikki Shamdasani, left their room after police made two calls warning them to come out. They were arrested by members of the Criminal Apprehension Teams.

Sgt. Al Cervantes said he was notified by Los Angeles police earlier this week that the couple might be in Las Vegas, where the woman was working as an exotic dancer at a club.

Cervantes said he began making the rounds to motels looking for a car belonging to the couple. He found the car about 8 a.m. Tuesday, and police set up a stakeout with seven officers, waiting for the couple to leave.

After more than two hours, a call was made to the room telling the pair to exit. A second call was made a minute later when they first refused to leave.

The second time, a female officer told the woman, "No, Nikki, this is not a joke."

The pair then walked out with their hands up as officers with guns drawn and wearing bulletproof vests took cover behind parked cars in the motel lot. Numerous guests left their rooms to watch the action.

Ramirez was read his rights before being taken to the Clark County Detention Center and told an arresting officer, "I just like to gamble and my girlfriend works in Las Vegas. I don't know what you're talking about."

The woman was being detained for questioning, but she was not immediately arrested.

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