Two men in their 30s from the Bakersfield area were killed in a shooting Friday morning outside the Entrussed manufacturing facility near Date Avenue and Main Street in Porterville, according to police.<\/p>\n
The shooting occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Police identified the victims as men in their 30s from the Bakersfield area. Family members of one victim, Matthew Gandara, said they believe the men were targeted.<\/p>\n
“It seems to be a set-up, by all means. There’s a getaway car. They waited for them to get here and they shot them,” said Ricky Robles, Gandara’s brother.<\/p>\n
Robles said his brother had recently turned 30 and had been traveling from Kern County for work.<\/p>\n
“You could do anything you ever wanted to, and um, he chose to cut lumber for the point being to pay his car payments, pay rent, and just make a living,” Robles said.<\/p>\n
According to the family, Gandara had been commuting for employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
“They drove up here every day from Bakersfield and they drove to Shafter every day. Then that company went down and they’re just chasing down work,” Robles said.<\/p>\n
After learning of the shooting, Robles and other family members traveled from Bakersfield to Porterville.<\/p>\n
“A lot of hearts, you know, broken right now. A lot of families, from both sides, fianc\u00e9’s here of the other co-worker,” Robles said.<\/p>\n
Porterville Police Chief Bobby Rader said the shooting has unsettled the community.<\/p>\n
“When things like this happen in a smaller community, it has implications and people were afraid, are afraid, and are concerned with what happened here,” Rader said.<\/p>\n
Investigators later discovered the charred remains of a burned vehicle about a half-mile south of the shooting scene. Police believe the vehicle may be connected to the case.<\/p>\n
“We are working it as if it’s related, but that’s the extent of what I can say about it now,” Rader said.<\/p>\n
Robles said the family is seeking answers as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n
“We want answers and as we know right now, that the guys are loose and still out,” he said.<\/p>\n
The shooting marks the second and third homicides of the year in the city of Porterville.<\/p>\n
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