Full Notification

On June 8, 2022, at around 5:00 p.m., San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office deputies and California Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop a vehicle possibly related to a homicide which occurred in Santa Barbara County, along with a carjacking which occurred in Orange County.  The suspect vehicle failed to yield and led officers on a pursuit which ended on Highway 46 near Kecks Road, in Kern County, when two suspects abandoned the vehicle south of Highway 46 and ran into an orchard.  The California Highway Patrol Air Unit was overhead when the suspects fled from the vehicle, but due to the heavy tree coverage, lost sight of the suspects.  The Kern County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the other agencies in looking for the suspects.  The Kern County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, K9 Unit and Air Unit were also requested and began responding. 

After a perimeter was set up around the orchard, a homeowner in the area reported an ATV was stolen from his property.  As deputies were preparing to search the area, a witness reported two males were seen running northbound from Highway 46 a few miles east of the orchard and had possibly left an ATV behind.  Kern County Sheriff’s Office K9 handlers were in the area and located the ATV abandoned.  A KCSO K9 handler spotted two suspects running northbound from Highway 46, away from the ATV, and directed the CHP Air Unit to the location.  Units set up a perimeter around where the suspectswere seen, and the suspects attempted to hide from units near a canal.  

As ground units approached the two suspects, they arrested one suspect without further incident.  As they approached the second suspect, they found he was deceased from a gunshot wound.  A handgun was located near the body.  

Due to the circumstances of the case, a homicide investigation was initiated.  At this time it is unknown how the deceased suspect suffered the injury.  No law enforcement officers fired their weapons during this incident.

The suspect who was detained is a juvenile and was booked into Juvenile Hall on an outstanding warrant.  The Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased suspect at a later time.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is working with all of the involved agencies on this case, including Lompoc Police Department, Anaheim Police Department, San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara Juvenile Probation, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol.