Erika Lares, 40, was shot on August 14, 2022 at the Vagabond Inn on Colony Street in Bakersfield. The shooting occurred around 7:24 p.m.; Lares was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead about an hour later. Cristobal Rojas Hernandez was also shot and critically injured; he died the next day at Kern Medical.

Police quickly identified and arrested 23-year-old Vicente Niko Williams of Bakersfield. Williams was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder; he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was denied bail. Preliminary hearings were scheduled for later in August 2022. The motive has not been detailed in reports.

Anyone with information about the shooting or who knew Lares is asked to come forward to help provide answers.