Six People Dead Following Shooting in California

Six People Dead Following Shooting in Bakersfield, California

A gunman in Bakersfield, Calif. killed his wife and four others before turning the gun on himself Thursday night.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Sep 13, 2018

Six people were shot and killed Wednesday night in Bakersfield, Calif. in what the Kern Sheriff's Office is calling a "mass shooting," according to local news sources.

The shooting began when the gunman went to a trucking business with his wife around 5:30 p.m. on the night of Sept. 12 to confront another man. Upon entering the business, the suspect shot the man before turning and shooting his wife.

The suspect then went after a man who fled from the scene, eventually tracking him down and killing him at a business nearby.

After these events, the suspect carjacked a vehicle with a woman and child inside. The two managed to escape without harm. The shooter then drove to a home in a nearby neighborhood where he open fired and killed to more men.

All five people died from their gunshot wounds.

"What we are trying to do is find out why this started and why so many players (are) involved, and the connection," Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told reporters. "Obviously, these are not random shootings."

The sixth killing occurred when the suspect eventually turned the gun on himself as deputies closed in to confront him in a parking lot.

When asked if the incidents where considered a "mass shooting," the sheriff said, "absolutely."

"I'm certainly speculating right now," Youngblood said. "But at this point, I'm pretty comfortable saying there will be a connection between all these players."

Youngblood mentioned that they have body cam video from the officer who was closing in on the suspect, but hadn't had a chance to look at the footage yet.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.