Ridgecrest Police Department Sargent Bill Groves–
On December 4th, at about 2 AM, Ridgecrest Police Officers were dispatched to the 600 block of E. Wilson Ave. regarding a male subject with a gunshot wound. Officers arrived on scene and located a male subject identified as Joseph Loza Jr. with a single gunshot wound to the head.
During the investigation, officers and detectives learned that Loza was involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, Renee Molina. At some point during the altercation, Molina retrieved a firearm, pointed it at Loza, and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Loza in the head and he was pronounced deceased on scene.
Molina was placed under arrest for murder. She was transported to the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield and is currently being held without bail.
No further information will be released at this time due to the ongoing nature of this investigation..
