Jose Manuel Ramirez, a 31-year-old man from Lexington County, was convicted by a Lexington County jury and sentenced to twelve (12) years in prison for the death of Marbel Lopez. Ramirez was convicted of Felony Driving Under the Influence, Death Results; Hit and run, duties of a driver involved in accident with death; and Reckless Vehicular Homicide. The trial began on Monday, September 15, 2025, and concluded on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Ramirez received concurrent sentences on all three charges. Circuit Court Judge Charles J. McCutchen presided over the trial of this case and imposed the sentence. Under South Carolina law, felony driving under the influence when death results is classified as a serious, violent, and “no parole” offense. The hit and run conviction is classified as a violent offense under South Carolina law.

The case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Senior Assistant Solicitor Todd Wagoner and Assistant Solicitor Player Long. The case was investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Evidence presented at trial established that on September 2, 2023, Ramirez was intoxicated and argumentative while at a child’s birthday party at a residence in the Gilbert area of Lexington County. Marbel Lopez, age 24, attempted to stop Ramirez from driving drunk when Ramirez entered his vehicle to leave. Ramirez drove out of the yard at a high rate of speed with Marbel hanging on to the side of the vehicle. As Ramirez exited an open gate, Marbel was thrown from the vehicle and struck a fence. Ramirez also struck a dumpster and a parked vehicle belonging to another party attendee. Ramirez ultimately fled the scene to a residence on Donald Drive in the Lexington area of Lexington County.

When Ramirez was arrested, he admitted to law enforcement that he was intoxicated. He stated that he consumed at least eight shots and that he could not walk straight. While at the Lexington County Detention Center, Ramirez provided a breath sample that showed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.18, which was more than double the inference level (0.08) in South Carolina.

Lexington County EMS transported Marbel to Prisma Health Richland. Marbel suffered a traumatic brain injury that required surgery. Unfortunately, on September 14, 2023, Marbel passed away as a result of the devasting neurological injury he suffered as the result of Ramirez’s actions. Marbel was an organ donor and was able to save others while he was in the hospital.

Senior Assistant Solicitor Wagoner remarked that “Marbel Lopez tried to do the right thing. Marbel had been drinking that day as well, but he tried to prevent someone from driving while impaired.” He further stated that “sadly, Jose Ramirez did not listen to Marbel and chose to drive off recklessly while intoxicated, killing Marbel. Driving while impaired is a conscious decision. If you are going to drink, plan ahead. Call a friend. Use a rideshare app. Listen to others when they tell you that you should not be driving. Or stay where you are.” Senior Assistant Solicitor Wagoner’s message to the community: “make the right choice before it is too late – for you and for everyone else on the road.”

Ramirez’s record includes convictions for Simple Possession of Marijuana and Trespassing in 2013 in addition to several speeding convictions between 2015 and 2023. Ramirez has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his active prison sentence.