BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – This morning, Kern County Sheriff’s Department responded to an alleged shooting out of East Bakersfield. But, they discovered something else.

The incident happened just after 5 a.m. in the area of Water and Nelson Streets in East Bakersfield. It was initially considered a shooting.  It happened around 5 am on Water Street.

According to Kern County Sheriffs' Deputies, a man came out of his home to start his car when one or two individuals shot him in the face with what is believed to be a paintball gun or a pellet gun.

The man, in a state of panic, ran inside his home to tell his family what happened.

When his family went outside, they saw that the car was missing. They went back inside to check on the family member and then called the police.

When they went outside again, they saw that their car had been returned.

The man suffered non-life threatening injuries to his face. He is expected to be okay.

There is no suspect information available at this time.

The shooting is still under investigation.