Phoenix man facing murder charges claims self defense after drug deal gone wrong

A man accused of second-degree murder claimed self-defense after a potential drug deal turned into a physical altercation, court records show.

Jesus Castillo Ordonez, 21, was arrested on Friday after Phoenix police suspected him of fatally shooting 23-year-old Ramon Flores Gonzalez near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road.

On Dec. 5, police said they responded to a report of a shooting just after 11 p.m. When they arrived, they found Flores Gonzalez lying on the ground next to his car with multiple gunshot wounds, according to court records. His brother, Enrique Flores Gonzalez was crouched over him and was attempting to render aid.

Ramon was pronounced dead on the scene by medical personnel.

Enrique told police he was told by a friend that his brother was shot, court records show. He went outside and saw Ramon seated in the driver's seat of his car, suffering from gunshot wounds. He pulled him out of the car to perform medical aid at the instruction of medical dispatchers.

After speaking with family and friends, police learned that Ramon had a history of using and selling illicit substances, according to court records.

Enrique told police in an interview that around 9:40 p.m., his brother called him and said a man who was involved in an armed robbery with someone they knew was coming to the house to meet him. Enrique said he told his brother it was not a good idea to meet with the man, but that his brother would not listen.

Enrique also told police he did not believe his brother had any previous disagreements with anyone.

A friend of Ramon told police in an interview that he was with him just before he was murdered, court records show. They were in the car together when another car showed up and Ramon told the friend to wait in his car.

The friend told police he saw someone enter the passenger side of Ramon's car and leave three times. After the third time, the friend heard a gunshot from the car and heard Ramon curse, according to court records. He then heard two more gunshots and saw the suspect flee. The friend then went to tell Enrique what happened.

Police recovered Ramon's phone and found that he sent multiple texts to someone between around 8:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. the night of his murder. Police stated in court records that the contents of the messages were consistent with an illicit drug deal being arranged.

A check on the phone number Ramon was texting showed it belonged to Ordonez, court records show. After obtaining a warrant, police found Ordonez's phone was in the area around the time of Flores Gonzalez's murder and later turned off.

Two days later, Ordonez's phone was turned back on and traced back to a house near Avondale Boulevard and McDowell Road in Avondale. Police took him into custody. Upon seeing that he had a phone in hand, police called the number Ramon texted and it rang.

Court records state that, in a police interview, Ordonez initially denied knowing Ramon and denied owning any guns.

When he was confronted about the text messages between him and Ramon, he told police that he knew him and bought Xanax from him. Ordonez told police that he went to his house on the night of the murder and, in the process of purchasing the drug, Ramon demanded a high price.

Ordonez told police there was a physical struggle, according to court records. He said he flashed his gun and Ramon grabbed it. Ordonez told police he shot Ramon three times and claimed self-defense. He said he was too scared to call the police because of the drug deal.

According to court records, Ordonez told police that after he shot Ramon, he gave the gun to a friend who threw the weapon into an unknown river at an unknown location.

Ordonez was also charged in connection to a Nov. 9 armed robbery against someone Ramon knew. Additionally, he faces charges for possession of narcotic drugs, tampering with physical evidence, and discharge of a firearm at a nonresidence.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man claims self-defense after murder of Ramon Flores Gonzalez