Pacheco Road and Monitor Street: Daniel James Ruiz Dies After Officers Open Fire in Southeast Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (October 14, 2026): A man was shot and killed by officers in a Bakersfield police shooting on the night of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, near Pacheco Road and Monitor Street in southeast Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), as reported by KGET 17 News and 23ABC (KERO). A second man ran from the area and was still being sought, police said.
Shortly after 9:15 p.m., officers tried to contact two men in the 1000 block of Pacheco Road, near an apartment complex, according to a department release. Police said the two men ran from the officers and one of them was shot. Officers gave him medical aid, but he died at the scene, the department said.
Police said a firearm was recovered at the scene. The department has not said whether the man who was shot was holding the gun, whether he pointed it at anyone, or what happened in the moments before officers fired. That is the department’s account, and the full sequence of events has not yet been independently reviewed. The officers involved were wearing body cameras and have been placed on administrative leave under department policy, BPD said.
The second man was last seen wearing black pants and a black hoodie or jacket, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.
BPD has not released the name or age of the man who died, how many officers fired, or why officers approached the two men. The Kern County Sheriff-Coroner has not publicly identified him, and the department has not said when it will release the body camera footage.
Update (October 16, 2026): The Kern County Coroner’s Office identified the man who died as Daniel James Ruiz, 23, 23ABC reported; KGET also reported his name. Police said the investigation remains active and have not said what led officers to fire or whether Ruiz fired a weapon. Neighbors told KGET and 23ABC that bullets struck their apartment during the shooting; no one inside was hurt. The account of what happened remains preliminary and has not been independently reviewed.
Update (October 23, 2026): The second person who ran from officers, a 16-year-old boy, surrendered to Bakersfield police at about 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, and was arrested on a warrant for weapons charges, KGET and BakersfieldNow reported, citing the department. He was booked into Kern County Juvenile Hall, and police said no other suspects are outstanding. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Police still have not said what led officers to fire, and the full sequence has not been independently reviewed.
Liability for Bakersfield Police Shootings
California sets one of the strictest standards in the country for police use of deadly force. Under California Penal Code § 835a, an officer may generally use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, or in narrow circumstances involving a fleeing person. Families may also bring claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of the Fourth Amendment and under the Bane Act, Civil Code § 52.1.
- Running from officers: Police said both men ran. Flight by itself generally does not justify deadly force under California law; the question is whether the person posed an imminent threat at the moment force was used.
- The recovered firearm: Where the gun was found, whether the man was holding it and whether he raised it are central facts that the body camera footage and the investigation may answer.
- Tactics before the shooting: In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), the California Supreme Court held that officers’ conduct leading up to a shooting can be considered as part of the totality of the circumstances.
- Body camera video: California law generally requires agencies to release video of a critical incident such as this under Government Code § 7923.625, with limited exceptions for delays.
These questions are decided on the evidence, not on the first account released after a shooting. A civil rights claim is separate from any criminal or administrative review of the officers, and it does not depend on whether anyone is charged.
Steps to Take After a Bakersfield Police Shooting
California law requires every law enforcement agency to report to the California Department of Justice each incident in which an officer’s use of force results in death or serious injury, under Government Code § 12525.2. Families who lose someone in a police shooting can generally:
- Ask for the case details: Request the BPD report number and the name of the unit investigating the shooting, and ask how the family will be notified of updates.
- Request coroner records: Next of kin can generally request the autopsy report and death certificate from the Kern County Sheriff-Coroner.
- Watch for the video release: Ask the department in writing when it expects to release the body camera footage.
- Preserve outside evidence: Write down the names of witnesses and ask nearby residents whether doorbell or security cameras near the apartment complex recorded the encounter.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Pacheco Road Police Shooting
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our condolences to the family and friends of the man who died on Pacheco Road. Two questions stand out: where was the recovered firearm when officers opened fire, and what does the body camera footage show about the seconds before the shooting?
If you or a loved one has been affected by a police or deputy shooting anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 15, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 14, 2026. Updated on October 16, 2026 with the name released by the Kern County Coroner. Updated on October 20, 2026 with the victim’s name in the headline. Updated on October 23, 2026 with the surrender of the second person who ran from officers.
