Raul Nunez

Raul Jose Roberto Nunez, a 25-year-old Hispanic man known to his loved ones as "Bobby," was killed on July 8, 2022, in a drive-by shooting in Fresno, California. The incident also claimed the life of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Stacy Zurita.

On that Friday night, a disturbance broke out between members of the Nunez and Zurita families at a gathering near the intersection of East Iowa Avenue and North Eighth Street in southeast Fresno. According to later court testimony from Nunez's mother, her son went to the location after Stacy and her mother called for help, claiming an ex-boyfriend was coming to cause trouble. The confrontation escalated into a brawl. Witnesses saw a car leave the scene before returning a short time later. Just after 11 p.m., multiple shots were fired from the passenger side of the vehicle.

Nunez and Zurita were both struck by the gunfire. Responding officers found one victim on the sidewalk and the other in the middle of the street. Both were rushed to the Community Regional Medical Center, where they succumbed to their injuries.

Fresno police detectives investigating the double homicide interviewed as many as ten witnesses and recovered three shell casings at the scene. A key piece of evidence was surveillance video that, according to police, clearly showed the passenger in the suspect vehicle at the moment the shots were fired. Using this footage and witness statements, authorities quickly identified the two people they believed were responsible.

The investigation led to the arrests of Stacy Zurita's own family members: her 40-year-old father, Gerardo Zurita, and her 19-year-old brother, Leobardo Zurita. Police identified Gerardo as the driver of the car and Leobardo as the shooter. Both men were booked into the Fresno County Jail and charged with two counts of murder. Authorities noted that Leobardo appeared remorseful after his arrest and said he had not intended to shoot his sister.

Gerardo and Leobardo Zurita pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. During preliminary court hearings, video of the brawl that preceded the shooting was shown as evidence. Nunez's mother, who is in a witness protection program, testified about the moments before the shooting, stating that her son was standing and talking to Gerardo in the car. As of the most recent court proceedings, the murder charges against Gerardo and Leobardo Zurita remain pending as evidence hearings and witness testimony continue.