BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County District Attorney's Office said a jury has found a Bakersfield man guilty for the 2018 murder of Christopher Rodriguez.
Court documents obtained by 23ABC at the beginning of the year, showed that Luis Pineda was involved in an argument in the parking lot of Red Zone on January 21 of 2018 around 1:45 a.m.
At the time of the argument, officials said Pineda threatened to shoot Rodriguez, saying: “If you keep talking sh**, I’ll come back and pop your a**.”
Officials also said, after the argument, Pineda went to his car, got a firearm and shot Rodriguez. Pineda then fled from the scene.
Rodriguez was taken to Kern Medical where he died from his injuries.
According to police, Pineda was identified as the suspect by witnesses. He was found at his home where authorities also found a .40 caliber handgun-- believed to be the murder weapon.
On Thursday, a jury found Pineda guilty of First-Degree Murder with a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of 50 years-to-life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4.
