The father and teen brother of a young woman who was murdered along with her boyfriend in a drive-by shooting has been arrested in California.
Gerardo Zurita, 40, and his 19-year-old son Leobardo Zurita were arrested Wednesday, July 13, in connection with the double murder, a Facebook post a Fresno Police Department (FPD) spokesperson revealed.
At about 11:30 p.m on Friday, July 8, the suspects allegedly carried out a fatal drive-by shooting at 3829 E. Iowa Avenue, killing 21-year-old Stacy Zurita and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Raul Jose Roberto Nunez, reports said.
Stacy was Leobardo's sister and Gerardo's daughter. Authorities say it all started when a fight broke out between the Zurita and Nunez families.
When police responded to the scene one of the victims was found on the sidewalk, and the other was found in the middle of the street.
Both victims were transported to CRMC [Community Regional Medical Center] where they later died from their gunshot wounds.
During the investigation, detectives from the Homicide Unit "learned that a fight had taken place between members of both the Zurita and Nunez families at the Iowa address," the statement read.
"Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle leave the scene but return a short time later. Shots were fired from an occupant inside the vehicle, striking both Raul and Stacy."
The suspects were identified within no time as surveillance footage had captured the entire event.
"The video surveillance footage shows Leobardo Zurita, who had a long ponytail at the time, in the passenger side of the car of the vehicle, and at the time the shots were fired we can clearly see that Leobardo is the right front passenger," Fresno Police Lt. Paul Cervantez told ABC 30.
The father and son were arrested days later on Tuesday, July 12, after the duo was spotted in Fresno. Police say both men had altered their appearance in hopes of not getting caught.
"Both Loebardo and Gerardo after this incident took steps or efforts to conceal their identities. Specifically, Gerardo shaved his head and Leobardo cut his ponytail and shaved some facial hair," Cervantes said.
"Gerardo was identified as the father of both Stacy Zurita (suspected victim) and Leobardo Zurita (murder suspect)," the police statement read.
Detectives say that Leobardo is remorseful, and didn't intend to shoot Nunez and not his own sister.
"It was not his intent to injure his sister in any way, and I can tell you Leobardo is remorseful, he regrets that he was engaged in this type of activity, he did admit to the shooting and he did confess to police about the incident."
Both suspects were booked into the Fresno County Jail for two counts of murder.
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