BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Three people were found with gunshot wounds at three separate locations in Bakersfield Wednesday morning in what police are investigating as connected shootings.
The first shooting was reported at 11:11 a.m. on the 6300 block of Chester Nimitz Street in South Bakersfield. Police say that victim died from their injuries.
Nine minutes later at 11:20 a.m., a second shooting victim was found on the 800 block of Hosking Avenue outside Golden Valley High School. Police say that victim sustained moderate injuries.
The Kern High School District says that an injured man, who was not a student, walked into the parking lot at the high school. They say the incident did not happen on campus.
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Authorities believe the shooting was an isolated incident and not related to school activities. BPD confirmed that the school is not on lock down due to the incident, but was on a “secured status.” BPD says a secured status means the school locks the “accounts and doors but continue with their normal operations.”
Guadalupe Rivera was in her third period class when the second shooting victim was found nearby.
“My whole classmates were scared. They were scared and they didn’t know how to react,” Rivera said.
Parents and guardians were visibly shaken when they arrived to pick up students.
“Scary because, you know, I’ve seen a lot of movies and stuff about school shootings and it kind of felt like in the moment we were living in it, but luckily it didn’t go any further than that,” Guardian Ashley Ruiz said.
The third shooting was reported at 11:38 a.m. on the 41 block of Pioneer Drive in East Bakersfield. Police have not released information about that victim’s medical condition.
When asked if the three incidents were connected, police said investigators believe they may be related.
“We are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation, but it does appear so,” police said.
Police would not release any information about how many suspects may be involved, nor if they have any leads. They are asking for help from the public as they investigate the shootings.
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