In the pre-dawn stillness of a Friday morning, Moises Abraham Vasquez, a 30-year-old man from Bakersfield, California, was waiting for the workday to begin. He and a colleague, Matthew Gan-Dara, also 30 and from the Bakersfield area, were outside a building supply manufacturer in the 460 block of South Main Street in Porterville. The two men often traveled from Kern County to find work, and on this day, they were at the Entrussed manufacturing facility near the corner of Date Avenue.
The
morning of October 2, 2026, was shattered by gunfire just before 5 a.m. When Porterville Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting, they found both Moises and Matthew suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency responders arrived and attempted life-saving measures, but the injuries were too severe. Both Moises Abraham Vasquez and Matthew Gan-Dara were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide began immediately. Detectives from the Porterville Police Department, with assistance from the Tulare County Sheriff's Office Crime Lab, secured the area. They closed South Main Street between Date Avenue and the Tule River Bridge to process the scene for evidence. About half a mile south of where the two men were killed, investigators made a significant discovery: the charred remains of a burned-out car. Police believe this vehicle is connected to the murders, though they have not publicly elaborated on how.
While police have not released a motive for the shooting, the family of Matthew Gan-Dara believes the attack was not random. Matthew's brother, Ricky Robles, described Matthew as a hard worker who had recently turned 30 and was doing what he could to support himself. He expressed his belief that the shooting may have been planned and the men deliberately targeted. As of October 2026, investigators had not confirmed this theory or identified any suspects in the killings.
Little has been shared publicly about the life of Moises Vasquez. Born on March 19, 1996, he was a resident of Bakersfield at the time of his death. A graveside service was held for him on October 21, 2026, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, where he was laid to rest. The families of both men were left grieving and searching for answers about the sudden and violent loss of their loved ones.
The case remains an active and open homicide investigation. The Porterville Police Department has not announced any arrests or named any persons of interest. Many questions linger about the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting in the early morning hours outside the Porterville workplace.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the shooting of Moises Abraham Vasquez and Matthew Gan-Dara to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400. Investigators have stated that even seemingly minor details could be crucial in piecing together the events of that day and bringing justice to the two families.
