Marine Veteran Enrique Ramos Jr. Dies by Suicide Outside San Antonio VA Hospital; New Details Highlight Ongoing Struggle for Mental Health Care

San Antonio, Texas — New details have emerged surrounding the tragic death of 33-year-old Marine veteran Enrique Ramos Jr., who died by suicide in the parking lot of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital. Ramos is the second veteran this year to take his life on the hospital grounds, intensifying concerns about gaps in veteran mental health care.

Ramos Called 911 Before Taking His Life

According to San Antonio police and hospital officials, Ramos called 911 before taking his life Thursday afternoon. He was identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, which confirmed the manner of death.

The South Texas Veterans Health Care System said the facility remains open and operational, and local law enforcement is continuing the investigation.

A Note Reveals the Depth of His Struggle

A message left behind by Ramos offered heartbreaking insight into his emotional state. In a social media post shared shortly before his death, he wrote:

“I love you all, and there’s nothing you could have done to prevent this. So I don’t want any of you blaming yourselves that you could have stopped my death.”

Friends and colleagues said Ramos had been open about his mental health battles and his difficulties accessing proper treatment. Jessica Hayes, who worked with him for four years, expressed sorrow and regret, saying she wished she had pushed him harder to seek the help he needed.

Years of Misdiagnosis and a Rare Medical Condition

A GoFundMe launched by Ramos’s relative Maria Jimenez revealed further details about his long and painful medical journey. According to Jimenez, Ramos suffered from severe psychological and physical symptoms and was misdiagnosed multiple times. He was eventually diagnosed with Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disorder.

“He tried everything to get better,” Jimenez wrote, adding that Ramos was exhausted after being given incorrect treatments for years. The fundraiser had raised nearly $4,000 at the time of reporting.

A Broader Crisis Among Veterans

Ramos’s death draws renewed attention to the systemic issues facing veterans. Suicide rates among veterans remain one and a half times higher than those of non-veterans — a persistent crisis advocates say requires urgent change.

Dr. Larry Miller, whose son Mark also died by suicide earlier this year in the same hospital parking lot, believes Ramos’s death underscores a larger message:

“They are failing our veterans.”

A Community in Mourning

Friends, coworkers, and loved ones continue to grieve Ramos’s loss while pleading for improvements in the nation’s veteran mental health support system. Many say the circumstances surrounding his death highlight the need for better access to treatment, faster diagnoses, and more responsive crisis intervention.