Samantha Jean Hedger, a 22-year-old resident of Phelan, California, tragically passed away on August 6, 2016, in Barstow, California. Samantha was born on February 2, 1994, in Loma Linda, California. Her untimely death occurred during a party in the 25000 block of Avenida Laredo in Barstow. The incident that led to her death involved her stepbrother, Joshua Inscho, who was 23 years old at the time.
On the night of the incident, Samantha and Joshua attended the party together. During the event, Joshua became involved in an argument with another male attendee. The confrontation escalated when Joshua pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of the partygoers. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Samantha and another individual tried to intervene by grabbing Joshua. Unfortunately, during the struggle, the gun discharged, and Samantha was fatally struck by the bullet. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene shortly after 2:20 a.m., but Samantha was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Joshua fled the party in a vehicle. A multi-agency law enforcement team, including Barstow deputies, Victorville deputies, and specialized enforcement units, launched a search for Joshua. After several hours, they located him hiding in a storm drain just after 9 a.m. Joshua was taken into custody without incident and booked on a murder charge. The investigation into the shooting was conducted by Detective Justin Giles and Sergeant David Johnson of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Joshua Inscho was subsequently charged with murder and booked into the Victorville jail. The case drew significant attention due to the tragic nature of the incident and the familial relationship between the victim and the suspect. The investigation revealed that the argument leading to the shooting was the catalyst for the tragic events that unfolded that night. The case remains a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of conflict resolution.
