On January 16, 2024, at approximately 2:38 a.m., 39-year-old Roger Alan Maestas was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 1000 block of Clyde Street in east Bakersfield. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, and the Kern County Coroner's Office later ruled his death a homicide.
The Bakersfield Police Department launched an investigation into Maestas's death. As of March 25, 2024, no arrests had been made, and authorities were actively seeking information from the public to identify any suspects involved in the shooting.
Prior to his death, Maestas had multiple encounters with law enforcement. On June 11, 2023, he was arrested by the Bakersfield Police for resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer. Earlier, on April 17, 2016, he faced charges for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, on August 3, 2016, Maestas was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.
Despite these prior arrests, no direct connection has been publicly established between Maestas's past activities and his subsequent death. The investigation into his homicide remains open, with law enforcement urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in identifying the person or persons responsible for his death.
