Juvenile killed in Wasco shooting

A 16-year-old male juvenile was shot, transported to a local hospital via air medic for treatment and subsequently died in an incident last Thursday at 6th Place and Cedar Avenue.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office called the shooting a homicide in its media release, and said the investigation is ongoing.

Right after the shooting, Mayor Vincent R. Martinez said, “Public safety is a number one concern in Wasco and for the City Council. Right now, we are meeting with Congressman David Valadao to discuss funding for our Police Department to help get our Police Department up and running so we can have the staffing to address these violent crimes in our city.

“We need the community to contact the Sheriff’s Office and share any information they may have. Our law enforcement is only as effective as the community wants them to be. Without information or leads, our law enforcement can’t solve these crimes.”

The city is in the process of forming an independent Police Department, and recently appointed Charlie Fivecoat as its first chief of police. Officials hope to have the new department fully functional in the next year.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to reach out to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness hotline at 661-322-4040.