BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A man was sentenced to 22 years and four months in prison for shooting a gun in the air after a domestic dispute and for possessing an unregistered loaded handgun, said the Kern County District Attorney.
Houmphanh Phommasouk was found guilty on October 29, 2025, of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, two counts of carrying an unregistered loaded handgun, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felon in possession of ammunition.
The incident happened on April 24, 2024, at around 1:16 a.m., when Phommasouk was seen by a security guard at the Blanco Apartments on White Lane shoving a woman during a family dispute, said prosecutors. He then pulled out a gun, pointed it in the air, and fired seven rounds before fleeing from the area in his car.
Bakersfield police responded to the scene and found five shell casings. They obtained surveillance footage and identified the suspect through his car.
Later that night, officers responded to an unrelated traffic crash and found that the driver, Phommasouk, was involved. He was determined to be the suspect in the non-injury shooting on White Lane earlier that day.
Houmphanh Phommasouk. Photo: Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
Comment with Bubbles
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Phommasouk was pulled over by officers, and they found an unregistered loaded handgun in the center console and a small pink purse on the passenger seat, with additional ammunition, said the DA.
Phommasouk is a convicted felon and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“Laws prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms are essential for protecting communities from individuals with a demonstrated history of dangerous behavior. Those who disregard these restrictions and engage in reckless acts, such as unlawfully discharging a firearm, will face serious legal consequences,” stated Assistant District Attorney Joseph Kinzel.