Oscar Ortiz Cervantez, 41, was shot and killed on January 1, 2021, in East Bakersfield. Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office responded about 10:49 p.m. to Rosewood Avenue near Niles Street and found Cervantez lying unresponsive on the sidewalk with severe trauma to his upper torso; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office described the death as a homicide and an investigation remains open. As of the latest available update, no suspects have been identified or arrested and few case details have been released. Cervantez’s killing was one of several homicides in Bakersfield that month, and authorities have asked the public for help in developing leads.

If anyone has information about what happened on Rosewood Avenue that night or knows anything about this case, please contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.