Jasper Lonnie Percy Gray, 38, was fatally shot on September 19, 2021, at the Hot Rod Diner in Hilmar, California. Deputies from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded about 7 p.m. and found Jasper deceased from a gunshot wound after an argument at the busy diner had escalated.

Born January 16, 1983, in Turlock, Jasper was the youngest of four children, raised in Vacaville and later Delhi, where he graduated from Shattuck High School. His death deeply affected his family and the small Hilmar community, where such violence is uncommon.

Authorities identified Dominick Jeffery Rufo as a person of interest; investigators say Rufo and Brandy Bettencourt fled to Baja California, Mexico. The two were located, arrested in Mexico, and returned to Merced County to face homicide charges.

If anyone was at the Hot Rod Diner that evening or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please come forward.