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Man pleaded not guilty to deadly shooting of 19-year-old in Southeast Bakersfield

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Update: Jose Velasquez, the man suspected of shooting and killing a man in Southeast Bakersfield last month, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and reckless discharge of a firearm.

49-year-old Velasquez was in court Monday afternoon for felony arraignment.

Deputies arrested Velasquez last month for the shooting of 19-year-old Nicholas Villarreal.

According to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a disturbance call near Chattahoochee Lane and Missouri Avenue at 11:49 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2019. When they arrived they found Villarreal with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Velasquez is due back in court on Jan. 17 for a preliminary hearing.


The Kern County coroner identified 19-year-old Nicholas Villarreal as the man shot and killed in Southeast Bakersfield on Dec. 29, 2019.

According to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, deputies were responding to a disturbance call near Chattahoochee Lane and Missouri Avenue at 11:49 a.m., when they found Villarreal with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies arrested 49-year-old Jose Velasquez for the shooting.

Velazquez is being charged with second degree murder and reckless discharge of a firearm. He is being held on a $1,000,000 bail.

Valezquez was due in court today at 3 p.m. for felony arraignment.

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