On January 5, 2023, at approximately 12:10 a.m., deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to reports of a person lying on the roadside in the 1900 block of West Vista Way, Vista, California. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of 39-year-old Oscar Rodriguez, who had sustained gunshot wounds to his upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy conducted by the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Rodriguez's death was a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. Initially, there was no information regarding potential suspects or the circumstances leading to the shooting.
The investigation progressed over the following months, leading to the arrest of two suspects. On March 22, 2023, authorities arrested 25-year-old Brian Jesus Zarate in connection with Rodriguez's death. Zarate, who was acquainted with the victim, was booked into the San Diego Central Jail on a murder charge. The exact nature of their relationship and the motive behind the shooting remained under investigation at that time.
Subsequently, on November 12, 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents apprehended 24-year-old Kevin Omar Ramirez at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Ramirez was also charged with involvement in Rodriguez's murder and booked into the San Diego Central Jail. The specific roles of Zarate and Ramirez in the homicide, as well as the motive, have not been fully disclosed by authorities.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department continues to encourage anyone with information about this case to contact their Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers to assist in the ongoing investigation.
