Fresno mother testifies about the horrific moments watching son’s fatal shooting

The mother of 25-year-old Raul “Bobby” Nunez broke down on the witness stand Tuesday as she recalled the final moments before the deaths of her son and his 21-year-old girlfriend, Stacy Zurita.

Nunez and Zurita were fatally shot at about 11:30 p.m. July 8, 2022, in the area of East Iowa Avenue and North Eighth Street in southeast Fresno. Arrested for their murders were father and son Gerardo Zurita and Leobardo Zurita.

Stacy Zurita was the daughter of Gerado Zurita and sister to Leobardo Zurita. Police believe she was an unintended target.

During the Zuritas’ preliminary hearing Tuesday, Nunez’s mother, Leandra Rubio, spoke emotionally about watching the shooting unfold just a block from her home.

She told prosecutor David Olmos that her son called her that night, saying he was worried someone was after him. She loaded her three sons and her husband into their Hyundai Elantra to go pick up Nunez, who was at his girlfriend’s house just a block away.

A grainy video shown during the hearing in Judge Michael G. Idiart’s courtroom captured the moment Rubio drove up to Stacy Zurita’s home. In the front yard, it appeared the Zuritas were arguing with Stacy’s mother. Soon after, Nunez comes out of the house and attempts to calm the situation.

“From my car, I could hear Bobby saying, ‘Chill, chill, chill,’” Rubio testified.

Olmos asked her what happened next.

“They just started attacking Bobby, they jumped him,” she said. “Then Carlos (one of her sons) scream, ‘They are jumping Bobby,’ so we took off out of the car. The boys ran off and I went back to the car.”

Within minutes, the fight was over and both sides went their separate ways. But when the Zuritas got back in their car, they didn’t drive away.

Rubio said they drove down the block, made a U-turn, turned on their high beams and raced back toward the crowd.

“As soon as they got close to Bobby and Stacy, the shooting started and then I heard Johnny (her husband) yell, ‘They are shooting everybody. Get down.’ I see flashes and then I start honking the horn,” she said, wiping her tears with tissues. “After that, I just froze.”

Rubio brought her hands to her face as she paused for a moment. The judge asked her if she wanted to take a break. She said no and continued testifying.

After hearing the gunshots, she ran over to her son, who was lying in the street, blood oozing from gunshot wounds.

“I’m screaming, trying to call 911, covered in Bobby’s blood,” she said, taking deep breaths. “He was not talking and I couldn’t hear him breathing.”

Attorneys for the Zuritas attempted to show their clients were somehow provoked by Nunez or his family. They also questioned Rubio’s motivation for wanting to cooperate with the Fresno County district attorney, now that she is in the department’s witness protection program.

Margarita Martinez-Baly, who represents Gerardo Zurita, said the District Attorney’s Office has paid Rubio’s family about $152,000 since 2022 and has continued to pay its rent, food and other expenses. Miles Harris represents Leobardo Zurita.

“When they gave you this money, did they say when it will stop?” Martinez-Baly asked. “They gave you $10,000 for incidentals, have you used that for trips?”

Rubio responded that she isn’t testifying for the money, she is doing it for justice and to keep her family safe. She also said she hasn’t taken any trips. “I haven’t gone anywhere,” she said. “I’m afraid to get shot or attacked. I am scared.”

Martinez-Baly also questioned one of the sons about being paid to complete phlebotomy training and for his professional license. He said is looking for a job in the field and currently is working at Dominoes.

The hearing continues on Wednesday.

Robert Rodriguez

The Fresno Bee

(559) 441-6327

A Valley native, Robert has worked at The Fresno Bee since 1994, covering various topics including education, business, courts and agriculture.