Dontrell Smith

Dontrell Demetrius Smith, a 29-year-old Black man, was a beloved figure in his Bakersfield community. To his loved ones, he was a pillar of support and encouragement who left behind a wife, five children, and another child on the way. A friend, Richard Shriver, remembered his uplifting presence and generosity. "Dontrell was a giving person," Shriver said. "He had a smile that was so bright, just light up a room."

On the evening of April 25, 2024, at approximately 6:45 p.m., officers with the Bakersfield Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation and reports of gunfire in the 800 block of V Street. When they arrived, they found Dontrell Smith lying in the roadway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that Smith died from his injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The investigation led to the arrests of two suspects, 31-year-old Marlon Burch and 35-year-old Rodney Gipson. Police stated the drive-by shooting was gang-related, alleging the suspects were members of the East Side Crips, a rival gang to the Bloods, with which they claimed Smith was affiliated. However, Smith’s family and friends firmly denied he was in a gang or had any such affiliations. In the wake of the shooting, family, friends, and local church members held vigils at the site, lighting candles and praying. Patrick Jackson, president of the Bakersfield NAACP, noted the community’s gatherings were also a "call for justice."

Burch and Gipson were charged with murder and participation in a criminal street gang. Both men initially pleaded not guilty and were held without bail. The case concluded nearly two years later. On March 18, 2026, Rodney Gipson pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and related weapon and gang charges; he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, plus an additional 10 years. That same day, Marlon Burch pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and related weapon and gang charges. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison.