On the evening of July 14, 2023, 28-year-old Joshua Peña of Bakersfield, California, was fatally shot alongside 28-year-old Jose Juarez at the On the Way Gas Station located at 2241 Girard Street in Delano. The incident occurred around 8:24 p.m., when a Delano police officer conducting a nearby traffic stop reported hearing gunshots. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found Peña and Juarez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; both were pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Surveillance footage revealed that an argument had ensued between the victims and several individuals, escalating into a physical confrontation. During the altercation, 19-year-old Bryan Heredia retrieved a firearm from a Dodge Ram and opened fire, striking Peña and Juarez. Heredia and his accomplices then fled the scene in the vehicle, leading police on a high-speed pursuit that concluded when their vehicle was disabled near Zachary and Woollomes Avenue. Heredia and 20-year-old Saul Ochoa were apprehended immediately, while a third suspect, 24-year-old Rito Castillo, was arrested on July 20, 2023, in Bakersfield.
The suspects, all residents of Delano, have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, gang conspiracy, and other felony offenses. Investigators have indicated that the incident appears to be gang-related, though specific motives remain under investigation. The arrests have provided some measure of relief to the community, though the tragic loss of Peña and Juarez continues to resonate deeply among family and friends.
In the wake of this tragedy, GoFundMe campaigns have been established to support the families of the victims. Peña is remembered as a loving father, son, brother, friend, and husband, whose untimely death has left a void in the lives of those who knew him.
The Delano Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and urges anyone with additional information to come forward by contacting Detective Santaella at (661) 721-3369.
