BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It was revealed during a court hearing Friday that prosecutors have waived the death penalty against two men facing murder charges in the shooting deaths of two people at a marijuana dispensary in east Bakersfield.
Terrance Thompson, 19, and Darwin Young Jr., 21, now face a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of murder, robbery and gang charges.
A third defendant, Nancy Ruiz, is charged only with robbery.
They’re due back in court in January.
Two other defendants — Traedyn Brookins and Ramahs Turner — were both 17 when the shooting occurred and have had hearings in juvenile court.
The five are charged in the May 27, 2025, shooting that occurred in the 1600 block of Flower Street and resulted in the deaths of Damien Joseph Bullard, 26, and Anthony Victor Ochoa, 37.
One of the teens was identified from surveillance video and arrested, and a large bag of marijuana seized, according to Sheriff’s Office reports.
Ruiz was identified as the girlfriend of Young. Both were taken into custody, and a ski mask and backpack Young was believed to have worn during the robbery were seized, the reports say.
As the investigation progressed, a witness identified each of the suspects, according to the reports.
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