On the evening of February 17, 2024, at approximately 7:32 p.m., deputies from the Kern County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting in the 10300 block of Tatum Street in Lamont, California. Upon arrival, they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, 32-year-old Ernesto Garcia Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim, 49-year-old Maximiliano Pineda, was transported to Kern Medical, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The Kern County Coroner's Office identified both victims as residents of Lamont. The cause of death for both individuals was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled as homicide.
As of the latest available information, the investigation into the shootings is ongoing. The Kern County Sheriff's Office has not announced any arrests or identified any suspects in connection with the case. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.
