Suspects in Potomac Park homicide brought firearm to fight over street racing: court docs
Mar 17, 2025
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- In a dimly lit basketball court at Potomac Park, a brief fight broke out as a big crowd watched on as spectators.
After about 30 seconds of fighting, multiple shots rang out and the crowd fled the scene to take cover. One man remained lying face down on the court,
killed by a bullet that struck the back of his head, according to a report filed by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
Three men were arraigned in February in relation to the shooting that killed a 21-year-old man at Potomac Park on Feb. 4.
RELATED: 3 arrested in connection to Potomac Park homicide
Isaac Barraza, 20, is suspected of shooting and killing Rolando German Ramirez Vargas, 21, at Potomac Park, according to officials.
Mario Bravo, 18, and Joseph Truskoski, 20, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and accessory, the sheriff’s office said. All three were charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder, according to Kern County Superior Court records.
According to the report, the shooting occurred after a fight that broke out between a few individuals when two groups of people gathered at a basketball court at the park. Truskoski was one of the two people involved in the fight, the report said.
A witness told officials Truskoski was losing the fight as he was on the ground being punched. Video captured on a cellphone showed Bravo and Barraza standing in the back and discussing something by themselves, before Bravo gestured at Truskoski saying they needed to go, according to the report.
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When Barraza, Bravo and Truskoski were about 30 feet away from the group, Barraza allegedly brandished a firearm and fired multiple shots, according to the report.
Vargas was pronounced dead at the scene from a bullet wound to the back of his head, the report said.
According to the witnesses who were part of the crowd, the fight was over someone losing a street race, the report said. Both groups were reportedly from two car clubs.
Bravo said Truskoski messaged him about going to fight someone at the park. After picking up Bravo, Barraza and Truskoski allegedly agreed upon wanting to bring a firearm to the fight, according to the report.
Coroner identifies man shot, killed at Potomac Park
When they arrived at Potomac Park, Barraza said he was going to leave the firearm in the car, but Truskoski allegedly told him to take it with him, the report said. Bravo told Truskoski they needed to leave after Truskoski started getting “jumped.”
As they left, Barraza allegedly nodded at Bravo just before shooting at the crowd. Bravo said he and the other two got into Barraza’s vehicle and drove away, according to the report.
Bravo told officials the suspects learned someone had died in the shooting about an hour after the incident. Barraza allegedly texted Bravo saying his mother was taking him out of town, which Bravo believed was to flee from law enforcement, the report said.
Barraza, Bravo and Truskoski were arrested and booked into Lerdo Jail between Feb. 10 and Feb. 12, according to court records.
A pre-preliminary hearing is set for May 12.
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