On the evening of July 18, 2026, gunfire erupted on Crane Street in East Bakersfield. Eric Wesley Lancaster, 53, was standing outside his father’s home with his father, Vernon Wes Lancaster, when both were struck. Eric died at the scene; his father survived despite being wounded and witnessed the attack.

Family and friends remember Eric for his generosity and loyalty; a fundraising page described him as someone who would give the shirt off his back. The surviving father faces both physical recovery and the emotional aftermath while the family handles medical and funeral expenses.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office arrested three juveniles, aged 12, 13, and 16, on charges including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, and participation in a criminal street gang. Investigators have not disclosed a motive.

Did anyone in East Bakersfield see or hear anything that night that could help the investigation?