By Laura Austin News Review Staff Writer– On January 3, 2023, at approximately 2:25 AM, The Ridgecrest Police Department and deputies from the Ridgecrest Sheriff Substation responded to the 300 block of Sahara Drive in Ridgecrest to a call involving a suicidal adult male, who was armed with a firearm. After failed attempts to negotiate the man to surrender his firearm, an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Both the Ridgecrest Police and Kern County Sheriff’s were involved in the officer-involved shooting. The suspect was struck and was transported to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital for treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
“It was so loud.” an unidentified neighbor told The News Review.
The neighbor also related how she had recently arrived home from a friends when she heard lots of yelling several units to the west. The woman said, “I heard a female voice say throw it out and then there was more yelling. Then I heard a loud pop. At first, I thought it was a firecracker but then I realized when there were several more, what was going on. I immediately instructed my children to lie down on the ground of our residents. It was really scary she said.”
Kern County Sheriff’s Office detectives assumed the investigation. More information will be released as it is available.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661)861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661)322-4040.
