Xbox seller accused of pulling gun, attacking 2 Pasco kids trying to use fake money

A Pasco man is accused of chasing, hitting and pulling a gun on two school children who tried to buy an Xbox from him using fake money.

The 14-year-old sister and her 9-year-old brother had answered an online marketplace ad through OfferUp, say Pasco investigators.

But when they met the seller named “David” at a city park at 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 13 the sale allegedly turned violent.

Now, the 24-year-old Auto Zone worker and father of two is in the Franklin County jail charged with three felonies for allegedly assaulting both children and holding the boy against his will.

Celso E. Ramirez is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Court documents say he forced the boy into his car and then took both of them home and spoke to their mom, according to court documents filed in Franklin County Superior Court.

Xbox online ad

Ramirez is accused of getting angry with the siblings when they met him at Centennial Park and he noticed they were trying to pay for the gaming system with fake money.

The boy set down the Xbox and tried to ride away on his bike.

Ramirez chased him down in his older gray Dodge and hit the boy’s bike with his car, causing him to fall off and scraped his arm, said the documents.

Ramirez then got out of the car and pulled out a gun. He racked the slide and held it to the boy’s head and chest, court documents said.

He told the boy, “I’ll shoot you.”

His sister was worried about what would happen and tried to get Ramirez to stop, said the documents.

He allegedly hit her in the face with the pistol handle, leaving a bruise, said the court documents. He also allegedly told her that “these are the consequences.”

Ramirez grabbed the crying boy by his shirt and dragged him to the car. The force was enough to choke the boy, said the documents.

His sister also got into the car because she didn’t want him to go alone, she told investigators.

Ramirez drove them home to their mother.

Later, he turned himself in to authorities after hearing that police were looking for his car, his attorney told a judge recently.

Ramirez allegedly admitted to meeting the children, grabbing the boy by his shirt and putting him in his car so he wouldn’t get away.

He also said he pulled out his gun, but denied pointing it at the boy or hitting the girl, according to court documents.

Prosecutors initially asked for $50,000 bail, saying that while Ramirez doesn’t have any serious convictions, the facts of the case make him a danger to the community.

His defense attorney, Michael Nguyen, asked for $10,000 bail saying Ramirez is a lifelong Tri-Citian who works and takes care of his wife who has a medical condition.

He also has two children of his own and three others he takes care of.

This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 2:33 PM.