‘I’m fearful’: Questions remain in NW Bakersfield KCSO shooting that left man wounded
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It all started around 8 p.m. Tuesday in northwest Bakersfield on Shellabarger Road. Deputies headed out to do a welfare check of a man reported to be suffering from a mental health crisis and possibly armed with a gun.
Neighbor Cheryl Miller said next came helicopters, as things began to escalate.
“The sheriff’s department was telling them to come out, we’re not going to hurt you or anything. It’s normal for helicopters to come around here but nothing like this,” said Miller.
According to KCSO, deputies attempted for several hours to get the man to disarm and tried to de-escalate the situation.
“We have a visual. Suspect is going to be on his back, he is moving, and the rifle is just going to be two to three feet away from him,” deputies are heard saying on dispatch audio from Broadcastify.
As hours passed, matters worsened, leading to the man allegedly firing at deputies.
“Can we confirm that our units returned fire or was it just shots fired from a suspect?” deputies are heard saying on dispatch audio.
“998. Suspect did shoot at us.”
More deputies then responded to the scene.
“KCSO’s en route for a shooting,” a dispatcher said.
During the incident, no deputies were injured. The man, however, was taken to a hospital with injuries. According to Miller, the neighborhood is relatively quiet and multiple neighbors told 17 News they were surprised by what took place.
“I’m fearful, in a way, but will this happen again? No, I am not scared. Life is what it is,” said Miller.
Many questions remain including what is the condition of the man who was shot? Did deputies call the crisis intervention team? Were less-than-lethal measures used?
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