Women rob casino, crash getaway car with guns into Montana elementary school, feds say

Two women stole bottles of Southern Comfort whiskey from a Billings, Montana, casino at gunpoint, then abandoned loaded firearms at a school, federal prosecutors reported.

Taliah Jeneane Ramirez, 22, of Billings, and Makyla Shayd Fetter, 28, of Harlem, pleaded guilty to charges including robbery affecting commerce, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in a school zone, a U.S. Attorney’s Office for Montana news release said.

On March 20, Ramirez and Fetter entered the Magic Diamond Casino in Billings Heights and began stealing five bottles of Southern Comfort, prosecutors said.

When employees confronted them, Fetter pulled out a pistol, the release said.

“Here’s your (expletive) ID,” she told a clerk, according to prosecutors. She also pointed the pistol at other employees who tried to block the exit.

Fetter and Ramirez fled in a Buick after Ramirez pulled out another pistol and fired it into the air to discourage pursuit, prosecutors said.

Billings police began to chase them but dropped the pursuit after Ramirez and Fetter fled at 80 mph, endangering other drivers, the release said.

They later crashed the Buick at Ponderosa Elementary School, prosecutors said. Police found the stolen liquor in the car and Fetter hiding in the tall grass. They found a loaded firearm on the playground.

The next day, a child discovered another loaded firearm at the school and told a teacher, the release said.

Fetter and Ramirez face up to life in prison and $750,000 in fines on the various charges, prosecutors said. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

This story was originally published August 3, 2022 at 6:43 AM with the headline "Women rob casino, crash getaway car with guns into Montana elementary school, feds say."