Attack on James Lee Whitehead

Tragic Accident or Criminal Responsibility: The Trial of Niki Hunter’s Attackers

In the early hours of August 30, 2009, Jesse Ramon, Fernando Rodriguez, and Michael Martinez allegedly carried out a brutal attack on James Lee Whitehead, a drag performer known as Niki Hunter. Tragically, a police officer responding to the scene mistakenly shot and killed Whitehead in an attempt to stop one of the attackers.

Officer William Kaman took the stand in the trial of Jesse Ramon, one of the three men accused in the death of Niki Hunter. Kaman recounted out the events of that fateful morning, recounting how he found Ramon pistol-whipping Hunter and two other attackers, Martinez and Rodriguez, fleeing in a white SUV. When Ramon refused to drop his weapon and pointed it at Kaman, the officer fired five shots, striking Ramon four times, but also hitting Hunter with a stray bullet.

Despite the tragedy of the situation, the authorities have maintained that the police officer’s actions were justified and that there was no evidence to suggest Hunter’s death was a hate crime motivated by his sexual orientation. The three attackers face charges under a state law that holds anyone responsible for a felony that results in a death, including murder.

On Tuesday, the prosecution called Officer Kaman and a witness, Cynthia Kopecki, to the stand. The defense attorney for Ramon is Richard Langlois, while Miguel Najera serves as the prosecutor.

The death of Niki Hunter has been described by the police chief as an “unfortunate” accident and by the district attorney as a “clear case of justification.” However, the trial of Ramon and his co-defendants will shed light on the events of that morning and determine their level of responsibility in the death of this beloved performer.

Assailant goes on trial in death of drag performer

James Lee Whitehead (a.k.a. Niki Hunter) Photos courtesy J. Johnson

Man Accidentally Shot Dead by S.A. Policeman Was Drag Performer

On August 30, James Lee Whitehead (also known as Niki Hunter) was walking to his apartment from the Saint on Ogden street when he was attacked by three armed men at the corner of East Park. The attackers, Jesse Ramon, Michael Martinez, and Fernando Rodriguez, were later identified by the police. Officer William Karman of the San Antonio Police Department arrived on the scene after receiving a 911 call from witnesses and saw Ramon pistol whipping Whitehead.

When Officer Karman ordered Ramon to drop the weapon, Ramon approached the officer with the gun raised, causing the officer to fire five shots. The second round of shots stopped Ramon, but one bullet hit Whitehead in the chest, leading to his death at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Ramon was taken to the hospital and charged with murder and Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. Martinez and Rodriguez were later apprehended and booked by the police. Ballistic tests revealed that the bullet that killed Whitehead was fired from Officer Karman’s gun. The district attorney called the shooting a justified use of force by a police officer, while the police chief referred to Whitehead’s death as an unfortunate accident.


A New Start in a New Apartment

James Lee Whitehead (also known as Niki Hunter) had just moved back to San Antonio from Austin in July and was residing in a new apartment near the corner of Ogden and Evergreen with his friend Joseph Johnson (a.k.a. Krista Nicols). Whitehead’s friend only found out about his death on Tuesday, 30 minutes before the SAPD’s press conference, where it was revealed that the shooting was accidental. Johnson became worried on Sunday when Whitehead did not return home, and it was only after police found Johnson’s phone number on Whitehead’s cell phone that he was notified of the death.

Whitehead had no other close family members, and Johnson located his niece in Marble Falls, Texas, to inform her of the tragedy. Whitehead was a performer and promoter, and owned the Miss Gay Universe Pageant. He had moved back to San Antonio as he was not happy in Austin and was preparing to participate in a local pageant in the coming weeks. “It’s very sad,” says Johnson. “He was only three blocks from home when he was assaulted.”