SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KGO) -- A college student who was shot and killed in San Leandro two months ago was not the intended victim.
Joel Ramirez, 21, was killed in mid-December and on Wednesday San Leandro police announced he was an innocent victim in the wrong place at the wrong time. His body was discovered Dec. 14.
Ramirez graduated from San Leandro High school a few years ago. He worked part time at El Torito while studying administration of justice at Chabot College.
He dreamed of becoming a police officer. Instead, police are investigating his death.
Like many young couples, Laura Miller and Joel Ramirez were inseparable.
"He was the nicest most caring, loving boyfriend I could have ever asked for," Miller said.
They had a routine of texting after they drove home late at night. Miller explains what happened Dec. 14 after he left her.
"He told me, 'Go back to sleep. I love you. I'll text you when I get home,'" she said.
When Miller woke up, she realized something was wrong. There was no text, so she drove to his house.
"His car was running, there were cops in the front yard and there was caution tape running across the street," she said. "It just couldn't have happened to a less deserving person."
After two months of silence, police finally came forward with information about Ramirez's murder. Ramirez unknowingly lived behind a marijuana grow house. Investigators believe he was shot by someone connected to that operation.
"We withheld Joel's name the entire time because we knew a killer was on the loose," said San Leandro Lt. Robert McManus. "We knew Joel was not the intended target and we knew that early on in this investigation, there was a chance someone else may have been killed."
Tuesday night, San Leandro police approved a $25,000 reward for information leading to the killers' arrest.
Ramirez's mother Wednesday pleaded for help and shared her grief through an interpreter.
"Joel was a very loved person and has left a huge emptiness in our hearts," Magedelana Ramirez said.
"I just hope this reward helps people come forward because you got the wrong guy," Miller said.
The wrong guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.