On December 15, 2023, 31-year-old mother of three, Veniesha Latrice Hanks, was found dead from a gunshot wound in the 5000 block of Evanston Court in Bakersfield, California. The tragic incident has left her family and community in deep mourning. Hanks was known for her vibrant personality and her love for her daughters, aged 12, 6, and 1. Her mother, Vesha Cobb, expressed profound grief, noting that their plans to spend Christmas together were shattered by this unexpected loss.
In the course of the investigation, Bakersfield Police identified 34-year-old Dontrel Jackson, the father of Hanks's youngest child, as a person of interest. Jackson reported that on the morning of the incident, he was at his residence with another woman when he heard a window opening. He claimed that upon recognizing Hanks attempting to enter, a struggle ensued during which he accidentally discharged a firearm, resulting in her fatal injury.
Jackson, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested on March 11, 2024, and charged with involuntary manslaughter, domestic violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to these charges and was released on $50,000 bail pending further court proceedings.
Hanks's family has expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation and the legal proceedings, feeling that justice has been delayed. They continue to seek answers and advocate for accountability in the wake of her death. In the meantime, they have established a GoFundMe page to support the upbringing of her three daughters, who are now under the care of their grandmother.
