BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A woman has been arrested for allegedly shooting into the KBAK/KBFX studio twice in a week. The arrest was made following a traffic stop Thursday night as she was traveling toward the news station.
The Bakersfield Police Department said on October 9th and October 13th, 2026, officers responded to separate reports of shots fired at the news station.
During the October 13th incident, officers located multiple bullet strikes to the building and recovered eleven .40-caliber shell casings.
Three employees were inside the building at the time. No injuries were reported.
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Bakersfield police said detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit, working closely with personnel from the Real-Time Information Center (RTIC), conducted an extensive investigation utilizing city-owned surveillance cameras, automated license plate recognition technology (ALPR), and surveillance footage obtained from surrounding businesses.
Police said ALPR technology played a significant role in identifying a vehicle associated with both shootings.
It allowed investigators to develop leads that ultimately resulted in the identification of 46-year-old Thomashana Renee Zeigler of Bakersfield, as a suspect.
Bakersfield police said on October 15th, 2026, at around 11:35 p.m., officers assigned to the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) conducted a traffic stop on Zeigler as she traveled toward the KBAK/KBFX news station.
During the stop, officers allegedly found a loaded .40-caliber handgun and an additional loaded magazine inside her vehicle.
Zeigler was taken into custody without incident.
Police said subsequent search warrants resulted in the recovery of additional guns and evidence associated with the investigation.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified additional threats directed toward the news station, according to police.
In a release, it said, “The coordinated investigative and enforcement efforts resulted in Zeigler’s apprehension and prevented a potential additional shooting.”
Zeigler was booked into the Kern County Jail on multiple charges, including shooting at an occupied building and carrying a loaded firearm.
“The coordinated efforts of the Robbery/Homicide Unit, RTIC, VCAT, and SEU, combined with the effective use of investigative technology, were instrumental in identifying and apprehending the suspect,” said in the release.
Jessica Bellucci with Sinclair, Inc. released a statement following the arrest:
We are deeply relieved that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the incidents at our KBAK/KBFX studios. We are thankful that no one was injured and grateful to the Bakersfield Police Department for its tireless efforts in investigating these incidents and bringing a suspect into custody.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding these incidents is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.