Parrish Stinson, age 50, from Bakersfield, CA, died on August 7, 2021. His death was the result of a gang-related shooting that occurred on May 31, 2020. On that day, officers from the Bakersfield Police Department were alerted by ShotSpotter to gunshots near South King Street and East California Avenue. Shortly after, they found a vehicle that had crashed, driven by Raul Dominguez, who was unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound. Dominguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance footage revealed that Dominguez had been brutally assaulted by a group of eight to ten people before being shot by three individuals, including Mark Milner and Parrish Stinson. The investigation identified Milner and Stinson as two of the shooters, leading to their arrest on June 23, 2020.
The Kern County District Attorney's Office pursued charges against Milner and Stinson, and on December 19, 2024, a jury found them guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in the gang-related shooting. The jury also found true various gun enhancements, including discharging a firearm resulting in death. The evidence presented during the trial included video surveillance showing the victim being assaulted and the subsequent shooting. The prosecution argued that the shooting was a premeditated act of violence, and the jury agreed, convicting both men of murder and other related crimes.
In addition to the convictions of Milner and Stinson, a third suspect, Brandon Michael Billingsley, was also implicated in the shooting. Billingsley, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was arraigned on charges including murder. He is the only suspect who has not yet gone to trial, with his preliminary hearing scheduled for January 7, 2025. The convictions of Milner and Stinson reflect the severity of the crime and the efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to bring justice to the victim and his family. The case highlights the ongoing issue of gang-related violence in Bakersfield and the importance of community and law enforcement collaboration in addressing such crimes.
