NewsLocal News

Actions

Vigil to be held for Bakersfield man shot by police 5 years ago

On November 13 in 2014, an unarmed man, James Villegas, who went by the names James de la Rosa, was shot by Bakersfield police officers on Mount Vernon Avenue.
Posted
and last updated

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On November 13 in 2014, an unarmed man, James Villegas, who went by the names James de la Rosa, was shot by Bakersfield police officers on Mount Vernon Avenue.

His body was then taken to a room at Kern Medical Center, where reports say his body was "touched and tickled" by a BPD officer, who was later fired for his actions. According to family members, those actions re-opened old wounds stating "for us, it's like losing James all over again."

The family will honor James Wednesday night at 5 p.m. at Greenlawn Cemetery on River Boulevard. The family says that at 7 p.m. they will head to 178 and Mount Vernon Avenue, where they say the life of James was unjustly taken from him.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Tuesday

12/09/2025

Foggy

-° / 40°

3%

Wednesday

12/10/2025

Fog Late

56° / 41°

11%

Thursday

12/11/2025

Clear

57° / 43°

8%

Friday

12/12/2025

Mostly Clear

63° / 45°

4%

Saturday

12/13/2025

Partly Cloudy

63° / 45°

4%

Sunday

12/14/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 44°

5%

Monday

12/15/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 45°

4%

Tuesday

12/16/2025

Mostly Clear

60° / 48°

7%