Derol Louis Del Rio, aged 62, was tragically shot and killed on April 2, 2022, in Oildale, California. The incident occurred early in the morning on the 300 block of Minner Avenue. Del Rio was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 4:00 a.m. The Kern County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and arrested the suspect, Jarrit Perrette, who was still present when deputies arrived.
Perrette, aged 38, was taken into custody without incident.
The investigation revealed that Del Rio and Perrette had been next-door neighbors for several years until Perrette moved away in 2021. Despite the move, Perrette continued to harass and vandalize Del Rio's property. On the morning of the murder, Perrette arrived at Del Rio's home armed with five loaded guns, over 300 pounds of spare ammunition, two bottles of lighter fluid, a lighter, and a police scanner radio. He knocked on Del Rio's front door and, when Del Rio answered, shot him three times in the chest with an AR-15 assault rifle, killing him instantly.
Following the shooting, neighbors witnessed Perrette standing next to Del Rio's body, still holding the AR-15. They called 9-1-1, and deputies arrived to find Perrette armed inside Del Rio's home. After a brief standoff, Perrette surrendered and was arrested. During his trial, the defense argued that Perrette suffered from mental health disorders that caused him to hallucinate, making him unaware of his actions. However, two psychologists testified that Perrette was aware of what he was doing and knew it was wrong at the time of the murder.
Perrette was convicted of the murder in November 2022 and was sentenced to 56 years to life in prison in January 2025. The Kern County District Attorney's Office emphasized that Perrette's actions were a senseless and tragic act against a man who should have been safe in his home. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of mental health and its impact on violent crimes, as well as the importance of seeking justice for victims and their families.
