Juan Ruben Cortez, 36, was fatally shot on the evening of October 15, 2023, while traveling in a vehicle on Pond Road between Stanley and Garzoli avenues in Delano, California. A female passenger in the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Cortez was transported to Adventist Health Delano, where he was pronounced dead; the Kern County Coroner’s Office ruled the death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.

Cortez’s family has sought community help to cover funeral expenses, and his sister Marissa Cortez organized a GoFundMe describing the family’s grief and need for assistance. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation and has not identified or arrested any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

Did anyone in the Delano area see activity on Pond Road that night or have information that could help investigators?