Juvenile trio charged with murder after killing California man in front of his father

On July 18, Eric Lancaster, 53, was shot dead outside his East Bakersfield residence, and his father Vernon “Wes” Lancaster was wounded in the same attack. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 16-year-old suspect soon after the shooting and later detained the two younger participants, aged 12 and 13, on July 29 and August 2 following an intensive investigation. All three juveniles have been charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and a criminal street gang enhancement.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene, where the victim died on site and his father was taken to a hospital for treatment. The father described the trauma of watching his son die and said he saw the shooter who fired the fatal round. The case remains under investigation to determine the full circumstances and any gang connections.