Key facts from coverage:
– Three juveniles (12, 13, 16) arrested for shooting death of Eric Lancaster, 53
– Shot occurred July 18 at 800 block of Crane Street, East Bakersfield
– Father Vernon “Wes” Lancaster survived with gunshot wound
– 16-year-old Adrian Valencia arrested initially on unrelated case
– 12-year-old Kyle Montijo arrested July 29
– 13-year-old Daniel Rios arrested August 2
– All charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, criminal street gang participation
– Wes Lancaster gave interview describing what happened and his son’s character
– Investigation hasn’t publicly released a motive
– Community leaders like Manuel Carrizalez of Stay Focused Ministries commenting on the crisis
Three juveniles, ages 12, 13 and 16, have been charged with murder in the July 18 shooting death of Eric Lancaster, 53, as his father watched helplessly.
The shooting occurred around 7:25 p.m. at the 800 block of Crane Street in East Bakersfield, and when deputies arrived, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds; one died at the scene and the other was taken to the hospital.
The victim was identified as Eric Wesley Lancaster of Bakersfield.
His father, Vernon “Wes” Lancaster, was shot at the same time and survived.
Vernon Lancaster, the surviving victim and Eric’s father, gave a gut-wrenching account of that night.
“When my son fell, I reached over as hard as I could to hold his hand and tell him to stay with us, stay with us — and it was too late. It was too late already,” Wes said.
The father witnessed one of the shooters fire at his son.
“I didn’t see my shooter shoot me, but I seen my shooter shoot my son,” Wes said.
He continued to describe the shock of the moment and the community’s failure to act.
“Everybody on the street stood out here and seen me and my son here. But everybody was afraid. That’s really the ugliest thing in the world,” Wes said.
Wes claims Eric had no connection to the suspects and described his son as someone who did not see the bad in people — but said Bakersfield’s violence found him anyway.
“He was a living human being that really didn’t see the bad in all people, but he’s seen the bad in Bakersfield. He says, ‘Dad, I’m glad I didn’t grow up here.’ But in the long run, it got him anyway when he came back,” Wes said.
A 16-year-old, later identified as Adrian Valencia, was detained in a surrounding neighborhood and arrested regarding an unrelated investigation.
Detectives identified a 12- and 13-year-old as suspects in the shooting, and through investigation the 12- and 13-year-old suspects were arrested on July 29 and August 2.
The 12-year-old was identified as Kyle Montijo and the 13-year-old was identified as Daniel Rios.
Each faces allegations of murder, attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang.
Investigators have not publicly released a motive or explained what allegedly led children as young as 12 to the scene.
The shocking youth of the suspects has prompted reflection from community leaders.
Manuel Carrizalez, founder of Stay Focused Ministries in Bakersfield, said the ages of the suspects reflect a crisis that begins long before an arrest.
“It’s family. They want to be listened to, they wanna be heard, and they want to be taken care of. And that’s what comes with the gangs. It’s distorted, but it happens,” Carrizalez said.
In the viral moment that sparked national attention, Wes Lancaster broke down as he recounted holding his dying son on Crane Street on July 18, the moment his son fell to gunfire and he desperately tried to keep him alive. He watched as bystanders stood and watched instead of helping, paralyzed by fear of the young gunmen. No motive has been released for why three children—barely out of elementary school in the youngest’s case—allegedly opened fire on a man and his father outside their home.
All three juvenile suspects remain in custody facing the most serious charges available to them.