Bakersfield Police officers detained several people for questioning and took one suspect into custody early Wednesday after a crime spree in east Bakersfield left two men dead and another wounded by gunfire.
The spree took place within a mile radius and included three separate shootings and two armed robberies.
The first call came in around 1 a.m. Wednesday with reports of a person shot near Lake and Bernard Streets. Arriving officers discovered an empty SUV crashed into a light standard. A man returned to the scene moments later with a gunshot wound to his hand described by the BPD as minor to moderate.
Moments later, officers received a report of a second man shot about three blocks away at Lake and Inyo Streets. That man was pronounced dead at the scene, BPD Sgt. Martin Heredia said. He has been identified as Raul Alonso Morales, 36, of Bakersfield.
A few minutes later, police received a 9-1-1 call reporting an armed robbery at the AM/PM convenience store at Union Avenue and 34th Street.
Moments later police received a report of a second armed robbery, this one at a gas station in the 700 block of Bernard Street.
Fifteen minutes later, police were called to the 1400 block of Williams Street where a third man had been shot. That man later died from his wounds at Kern Medical Center, police reported. He has not yet been identified.
Officers converged on an apartment complex in the 1000 block of McNew Court a short time later after officers spotted a car that matched the description provided by witnesses to the crime spree.
Officers were still working to clear the apartment complex at 7 a.m. The SWAT team was called in to assist.
