Heron Bravo Sepulveda, 43, was shot and killed just after 11 p.m. on September 16, 2022, in the parking lot of La Mina Cantina on District Boulevard in Bakersfield, California. Surveillance footage and witness accounts show a confrontation erupted as Sepulveda, his brother Manuel Bravo, and a third man were leaving and another group was arriving. A brawl broke out, and Raymond Blas Gallegos, then 38, produced a gun and fired two shots that struck Heron Sepulveda and Manuel Bravo.

Sepulveda was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest; Manuel Bravo sustained a shoulder wound and another person suffered moderate injuries and was hospitalized. The shooter fled before police arrived; homicide detectives later identified Gallegos from witness statements, surveillance footage, and other evidence and arrested him in June 2023. He was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and related offenses, and pleaded not guilty while his defense prepared a self-defense claim describing the other group as three intoxicated bikers and alleging Manuel Bravo had produced a switchblade.

A trial began in May 2024. After the first day of proceedings the parties reached an agreement, and on May 20, 2024, Raymond Gallegos pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in Heron Sepulveda’s death; murder and attempted murder counts were dismissed in the deal. Sentencing was scheduled for July. Does anyone have information about the incident or knew Heron Sepulveda that could help fill in what happened that night?