Susana Ortiz, a 48-year-old resident of Bakersfield, California, tragically lost her life on July 4, 2022, in a shooting incident. The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Bakersfield Police officers responded to the scene and found Ortiz critically injured from gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to Kern Medical, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The shooting also resulted in injuries to two other individuals, including a juvenile boy who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The Bakersfield Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, which was classified as a homicide. Initial reports indicated that there was no suspect information available immediately following the incident. However, as the investigation progressed, the police identified multiple suspects involved in the case. By December 2022, the police had arrested four teenagers in connection with the murder of Susana Ortiz. The authorities were still searching for the final suspect, identified as 19-year-old Demarko Hegwood. Hegwood was described as a black male, approximately 5'6" tall and weighing around 130 pounds. The police requested the community's assistance in locating him.
The incident had a profound impact on Ortiz's family, particularly her daughter-in-law, Maria Villarreal, who was also shot that night but survived. Villarreal recounted the harrowing experience, describing Ortiz as a loving and protective grandmother who prioritized the safety of her grandchildren even in her final moments. Ortiz managed to get her grandchildren inside the house before she was fatally shot. Villarreal's account highlighted the emotional toll the incident took on the family, especially on Ortiz's young grandchildren who witnessed the traumatic event.
Despite the arrests made, the investigation into Susana Ortiz's murder continued as the police sought to apprehend the remaining suspect. The community was urged to provide any information that could assist in bringing all those responsible to justice. The case underscored the ongoing issue of gun violence in the area and the devastating impact it has on families and communities.
