Omar Araujo
WASCO — Police have arrested two of the three men wanted in connection with a New Year’s Eve shooting in Wasco that left one man dead.
Cristian Gomez, 18 and 30-year-old Vincente Ibarra have been booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of murder, conspiracy, attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and participating in a criminal street gang.
Both are being held without bail.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the two men, along with a third suspect identified as 23-year- old Omar Araujo, were wanted by police after fatally shooting 43-year-old Ismael Ramirez in the 1000 block of 16th Street in Wasco on December 31, 2015. “During the course of the investigation, which has been ongoing, detectives were able to identify the three suspects,” said Public Information Office Ray Pruitt, “and were able to obtain arrest warrants for all three suspects charging them with murder.”
On January 13, Gomez was located at a home in the 1400 block of “D” Street in Wasco by deputies from the Wasco substation and taken into custody.
A few days later on January 22, Ibarra was located at an apartment in the 2600 block of Poso Drive in Wasco, and after attempting to flee on foot, was arrested. “Both men were in possession of a loaded handgun when they was taken into custody,” Pruitt said.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance in locating Araujo, but should use caution as he is considered armed and dangerous.
