BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Body-camera footage released Tuesday shows a deadly officer-involved shooting on Highway 58 that killed a 41-year-old Bakersfield man after authorities said he opened fire on deputies.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened April 10, 2026, after deputies were called about 5:30 p.m. to the 500 block of South Pepper Drive for a report of a shooting. The alleged suspect, later identified as Giovanni Montoya Guzman, left the area when deputies arrived, and deputies pursued him for several minutes before ending the chase because of unsafe driving conditions, the sheriff’s office said.
Photo: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies later learned Guzman’s vehicle was involved in a traffic crash on eastbound Highway 58, east of Weedpatch Highway, about 6 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. Around the same time, a victim with a gunshot wound was taken to a hospital by private vehicle, and authorities determined the injury was connected to the initial shooting report, the sheriff’s office said.
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Deputies responded to the crash scene and tried to make contact with Guzman. During that contact, an officer-involved shooting occurred, and Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the body-camera footage released Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said Guzman is seen shooting first at deputies before deputies return fire.
Photo: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies Javarest Dillard and Senior Deputy Isaac Azua were placed on routine critical incident leave pending completion of the investigation, the department said.
On May 13, 2026, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office’s Incident Review Board determined that the use of force was within department policy.
Photo: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
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Anyone with more information regarding this incident is asked to call the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3100 or the Kern Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.