On October 18, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., deputies from the Kern County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting in the 1300 block of Ogden Street, near Mercado Latino in Bakersfield, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 34-year-old Armando Meza Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound. He was promptly transported to Kern Medical, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing an argument between Meza and a woman, followed by a gunshot. Investigators identified the suspect as 34-year-old Dolores Alatorre. According to court documents, the altercation stemmed from a dispute over a bicycle that Alatorre claimed Meza had stolen from her son. Alatorre confronted Meza while seated in her vehicle, holding a chrome pistol. Witnesses recounted Meza's final words: "If you're going to use it, then use it." Alatorre alleged that Meza became belligerent and reached into her car, prompting her to shoot in self-defense.
Following the incident, Alatorre fled the scene but was apprehended two days later, on October 20, 2024. She was arrested and booked into jail on charges of first-degree murder and is currently being held without bail. Alatorre has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
