NewsCrime

Actions

Jury finds man guilty in 2018 Taft murder case

WCPO gavel
Posted
and last updated

TAFT, Calif. (KERO) — A jury has found a man guilty in a 2018 homicide case in Taft.

Bobby Gene Sherrell Jr. was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing 31-year-old David Steelman on June 13th of that year.

Steelman was unarmed and alone in an alley near the area of Crystal Street and Naylor Avenue when he was shot in the chest. An investigation found Sherrell had been pursuing Steelman in his vehicle prior to shooting him.

District Attorney Cythnia Zimmer says the killing was motivated by a prior dispute weeks earlier.

Sentencing is set for January 6th. Sherrell faces up to 40 years to life in prison.



,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

07/02/2025

Clear

-° / 74°

0%

Thursday

07/03/2025

Clear

104° / 69°

0%

Friday

07/04/2025

Clear

96° / 65°

0%

Saturday

07/05/2025

Clear

95° / 67°

0%

Sunday

07/06/2025

Clear

99° / 70°

0%

Monday

07/07/2025

Clear

102° / 71°

0%

Tuesday

07/08/2025

Clear

102° / 73°

0%

Wednesday

07/09/2025

Clear

103° / 74°

0%