Two people are in critical condition tonight after the Kern County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting victim on the 900 block of Water Street near River Boulevard.
After arriving on scene two-officer involved shootings took place. Citizens calling in reporting a suspect in the alley with a rifle. It was a hectic afternoon on Wednesday in Northeast Bakersfield that left a victim in critical condition after being shot.
Lieutenant Joel Swanson with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office says within minutes of responding to reports of a shooting, deputies were able to locate the suspect described as a Hispanic male, carrying a rifle, near the area between Water Street and Dartmouth St. Swanson says this is where the first officer involved shooting occurred at about 3 pm. He adds, "However the suspect was able to continue to flee on foot."
And within 10 minutes helicopter crews were able to locate the suspect. Swanson says the suspect began firing shots at the helicopter and less than an hour later, Deputies located the suspect again in the backyard of a home near the 3000 block of Dartmouth St. "At that point deputies responded they engaged the suspect again who was still armed with a rifle. And another officer involved shooting occurred. Once that happened the suspect went down in the yard. And he was then arrested at approximately 3:54."
No members of law enforcement were reported injured in the incident. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition, along with the initial shooting victim.
"We don’t know what his initial relationship is with the victim. Were still investigating that. This is going to be a long drawn out scene with multiple locations of crime scenes that we have. So we will be investigating."
The Sheriff's Office was unable to answer how many shots were fired. The Bakersfield Police Department and California Highway Patrol were also on scene to assist. This is an ongoing investigation if you have any information you’re asked to call the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
