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The shooting of Maria Hernandez is one of the earliest confirmed Night Stalker attacks and marks the beginning of Richard Ramirez’s identifiable crime spree in Los Angeles. This case is significant because Hernandez survived, providing a direct account of the attack and contributing to the early understanding of the offender’s behavior.
Ramirez approached Hernandez and shot her in the face with a handgun. The bullet deflected off her keys, allowing her to survive. This unexpected survival made the case a critical turning point in the investigation.
Hernandez’s account helped establish the presence of a violent offender operating in the area. This case would later be linked to other attacks forming the Night Stalker pattern.