A local mother is mourning the loss of her son, who was gunned down moments after she saw him on a central Bakersfield street.
Bobbie Hawkins says she and her son, 33-year-old Telon Hester, were on their way home from a recycling center when he was gunned down near the intersection of Baker and Irene Streets around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Telon's family says he had some mental problems, but didn't have any enemies.
"I was like 'come on Telon' and he was like 'mama I'll catch up' and I said okay," said Hawkins. "I walked to my grandmother's house and I heard pop, pop, pop. Three times."
"He was just the kind of guy that walked the neighborhood and collected cans," said Telon's aunt Carolyn Cooper. "Like I said, he didn't mess with anybody. A very sweet person. I don't understand why this happened."
Hester's mother said Telon's brother who was shot last year died three weeks ago.
There is no word on a motive for this shooting and no arrests. If you have any information, call the Secret Witness hotline at 661-322-4040.
