A Bakersfield man suspected in the shooting death of a toddler nearly three months ago, faced a judge Wednesday. 28-year-old Anthony Chacon was arrested Sunday, trying to cross the Mexican border back into the United States.
Chacon faces murder charges in the death of two-year-old Ka'Mya Robinson. The toddler was killed by a stray bullet while playing outside on April 30th. Shortly after, police named Chacon a suspect. He is now behind bars in downtown Bakersfield.
Chacon faces charges of first degree murder, attempted murder and participation in a street gang. Police say he is the man who fired the shot that killed Ka'Mya.
Chacon stood before Judge Jose Benavides in Bakersfield Wednesday on unrelated spousal abuse and DUI cases.
"On July 8th, Calexico Police Department arrested Chacon on two outstanding BPD warrants," said Uriel Pacheco, Bakersfield Police Department.
Police say Chacon was taken into custody at the port of entry, trying to make his way back from Mexico. The arrest comes ten weeks after, police say, a group of men in an SUV got into a fight with two other men at the corner of Virginia and Robinson Streets in south Bakersfield.
Investigators believe Chacon fired a shot at the men from the SUV, but the bullet hit Ka'Mya. 17 News spoke with Robinson's heartbroken mother, Katie Wimbley, in May.
"What if it was your kid? What if it was your kid and you couldn't hear your daughter play with her twin or her brothers and sisters? Put yourselves in my shoes," said Katie Wimbley.
Neighbors say Wimbley recently moved from the family's home in east Bakersfield, with the help of Bakersfield police.
"They took her away. They took her out of town," said Guillermo Flores.
"They moved her for her own safety," said Carol Ruiz.
Just a few miles away from where the two-year-old was shot in April, neighbors say their community hasn't been the same.
"Nobody is outside anymore. None of the kids play. They stay in the house," said Marquisha Slocumb.
Chacon is scheduled to be in court Thursday. He will be arraigned on a first degree murder charge.
