Kenneth McCarty Ricks, 38, was shot and killed in the early hours of July 9, 2023. Bakersfield police found him lying in the roadway near the 1800 block of Bradley Avenue, west of South H Street, at about 3:20 a.m.; he was taken to Kern Medical and pronounced dead at 4:13 a.m.

A second man at the scene also suffered gunshot injuries and was hospitalized in critical condition. The Bakersfield Police Department opened an investigation but, as of the latest reports, had not identified suspects or made arrests. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Ricks had several prior encounters with law enforcement, including arrests in June 2010, October 2012, and August 2016 on charges ranging from resisting or obstructing officers to drug and domestic-related offenses. The investigation into his death remains open. Does anyone in the Bakersfield area have information that could help investigators?