The Deck — Episode Summary

Title: Ron Harnish (7 of Clubs, California)
Host: Ashley Flowers
Release Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Deck explores the cold case of Ron Harnish, a 22-year-old Navy sailor gunned down in San Diego in 2006. Nearly 19 years later, his murder remains unsolved despite strong suspicions regarding two gang members, particularly one pseudonymously called “Rich.” The episode weaves together the perspectives of investigators, Ron’s family, and the ongoing hope for closure, as police use new forensic technologies in an attempt to finally solve the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of the Murder — What Happened

• Incident Recap:
  • On December 27, 2006, Ron Harnish was shot and killed near the corner of 30th and C Street in Golden Hill, San Diego.
  • Ron and two Navy friends (“Paul” and “Aaron”) were out picking up food when they noticed a man flashing gang signs. Ron asked Aaron to turn the car around, got out, and approached the man, followed by Paul. Suddenly, a second individual appeared and opened fire, killing Ron and injuring Paul.

“All three men had been in the car together before the shooting. They were all buddies who served in the Navy together.” (Ashley Flowers, 03:51)

• Physical Evidence:
  • Only six .22 caliber shell casings were found at the scene, with no usable DNA or fingerprints.
  • Witnesses saw the shooters fleeing; one hid a rifle under a jacket (09:00).

2. Investigation and Initial Suspects

• Gang Involvement – The Lomas Gang:
  • Investigators immediately suspected a gang connection, specifically the Lomas gang, which controlled the neighborhood.
  • Fresh gang graffiti and “throwing up gang signs” at the scene pointed to this involvement, despite Ron having no ties to gangs.

“And so that’s a real good indication that it’s gang activity. And we know specifically the gang that kind of controls this particular area is the Lomas gang.” (Detective Tracey Barr, 07:14)

• Suspects:

  • Witnesses described two Hispanic men, one taller (possibly Rich) and one shorter (the suspected shooter).
  • “Rich,” a known gang member with a rap sheet, was repeatedly named to police and had his tag found near the crime scene, but denied involvement when questioned (15:32).

• Complicating Factors:

  • No direct connection between Ron and the gang; possible motives included mistaken identity or a random “initiation.”

3. The First Connection – Other Shootings

• Linked Shooting:
  • Three days before Ron’s death, Samuel and John were shot at in an alley nearby by two men matching the description of Ron’s killers, using the same weapon (13:38).
  • This strengthened police theory of a gang initiation or proving oneself through violence.

“Who knows, it could have been a setup for a gang initiation.” (Detective Barr, 14:08)

4. Family’s Frustration and Grassroots Investigation

• Lack of Communication:
  Ron’s brother Gabe and mother Tracey struggled to get updates from the authorities in the chaotic hours and days after the killing.

“We’re calling everywhere. Nobody’s giving us any information. It was a few hours before we really came to the realization, the realization.” (Gabe Azulay, 08:46)

• Tracey’s Tenacity:
  • Ron’s mother, Tracey, independently tracked suspects on social media and tried to secure the Governor’s $50,000 reward to encourage tips (17:42).
  • Police hesitated, questioning Ron’s “intentions” that night—some saw his decision to approach the man as antagonistic, creating red tape for the reward (18:54).

“She just had a feeling. But she knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere on a feeling. She needed people to talk.” (Ashley Flowers, 17:54)

• Eventually, Governor Schwarzenegger approved the reward, leading to a Crime Stoppers billboard, but little new information surfaced (19:31).

5. Cold Case Developments and Forensic Advances

• Special Task Force:

  • Multi-agency (SDPD, NCIS, FBI, DEA, Border Patrol, DA) task force reexamined the case but stalled by 2012 due to lack of evidence.

• Potential Weapon:

  • Police once found Rich with a rifle near the scene a month before the murder but couldn’t link the gun directly to the shooting (21:14).

• The Main Hurdle:

  • No physical evidence, reluctant witnesses, and “bad” witness credibility (being gang members) have hindered prosecution.

• Ongoing Developments:

  • Detective Barr is applying new forensic techniques (Recover machine) capable of extracting previously undetectable fingerprints from shell casings—a ray of hope for breakthrough (26:54).

“One of the new technologies is that we can actually revisit shell casings … and we can actually extract more fingerprints … ingrained into the metal…” (Detective Barr, 26:23)

6. The Continuing Impact

• Family Remembrance:
  • Ron is remembered as a loving son and brother, with his mother recalling cherished moments and his desire to “be somebody who made a difference” (09:29).
  • Tracey’s memories, including a heartfelt Mother’s Day poem, evoke Ron’s gentle character (27:47).

“He wrote me a Mother’s Day poem … only one mother the whole world over. … he was all right, that kid. He really was.” (Tracey Wilde, 27:47)

• Hope for Future:
  • Both Detective Barr and Ron’s family hope changing circumstances might encourage reluctant witnesses to come forward.

“The hope is … maybe their lives are different now and maybe they are willing to come forward and talk or, you know, say, yeah, that wasn’t okay. And here’s what I know.” (Detective Barr, 28:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:51]
  “All three men had been in the car together before the shooting. They were all buddies who served in the Navy together.” — Ashley Flowers

• [07:14]
  “And so that’s a real good indication that it’s gang activity. And we know specifically the gang that kind of controls this particular area is the Lomas gang.” — Detective Tracey Barr

• [09:29]
  “He wanted to be somebody who made a difference.” — Gabe Azulay

• [17:42]
  “I just went on the computer and kept digging, digging until I found some back in the MySpace days. So then when I came across his picture, I just knew. I just knew it was him.” — Tracey Wilde

• [18:54]
  “But the police had concerns because Ron had gotten out of the car. They saw this as Ron being antagonistic. But Ron’s family saw things differently.” — Ashley Flowers

• [26:23]
  “One of the new technologies is that we can actually revisit shell casings … and extract more fingerprints … ingrained into the metal.” — Detective Tracey Barr

• [27:47]
  “He wrote me a Mother’s Day poem … only one mother the whole world over. … he was all right, that kid. He really was.” — Tracey Wilde

• [28:05]
  “The hope is, because this is years after the fact, that maybe some people who were either involved or have knowledge of what happened to Ron, that maybe their lives are different now and maybe they are willing to come forward and talk.” — Detective Tracey Barr

Important Segments & Timestamps

• The shooting and immediate aftermath: [01:34]–[05:20]
• Gang involvement and investigation focus: [06:32]–[09:32]
• Family perspectives and struggle for information: [08:46]–[09:32]
• Connecting cases, other victims, and the gang's pattern: [13:38]–[14:32]
• Suspect “Rich,” mother’s investigation, and reward attempt: [15:32]–[19:56]
• Task force and forensic stagnation: [20:02]–[24:06]
• Current forensic hopes, family memories, call for leads: [26:23]–[28:27]

Conclusion & Call to Action

Despite years of work by both law enforcement and Ron’s determined family, the case remains unsolved. With the advent of advanced forensic techniques and a significant reward ($57,500), there is renewed hope that someone will break their silence or new evidence will come to light.

If you have information about Ron Harnish’s 2006 murder, contact Detective Barr at 619-531-2239 or San Diego Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8846.

The memory of Ron Harnish lives on through his family's stories and the persistent pursuit of justice encapsulated in this moving episode.