Man arrested in 1988 local cold case shooting death

A man was arrested Friday after investigators reopened a 1988 cold case shooting in Barstow.

David Anthony Loustaunau, 39, was arrested Friday at his home in Kingman, Ariz., on suspicion of murder. Investigators believe that Loustaunau shot and killed Leroy Stracner, then 39, in October of 1988.

Stracner died of two gunshot wounds to his upper body at a house on the 35200 block of Birch Road, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department report. At the time, witnesses told investigators that Leroy had pulled out a handgun and that he was shot while he and Loustaunau struggled over it. The District Attorney’s Office did not find enough evidence to file murder charges, according to the report.

Twenty years later, members of Stracner’s family asked the sheriff’s department cold case team to revisit the case. After reinterviewing key witnesses, investigators concluded that the story about the two men struggling over the gun was not true, the report stated. The District Attorney’s Office then issued a warrant for Loustaunau’s arrest, and officers in Kingman took him into custody.

Sheriff’s department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said the men apparently fought over a woman.

An extradition hearing will be set for Loustaunau, and he will be transported back to San Bernardino County to face murder charges, according to the report.

To report information relating to the case, call Detective Greg Myler with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department homicide detail at 909-387-3589. To remain anonymous, call WE-TIP at (800) 78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.