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The Secret Witness Program is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest in the following case being investigated by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 6, 2012 a California Highway Patrol officer was shot twice by a passenger in an SUV that had flipped a U-turn to confront him as he stood on the side of the road in Bodfish using his radar gun. Officer David Bunting was conducting radar checks about 10:45 p.m. Sunday on Highway 178 near Borel Road when a dark blue SUV sped past him.
The vehicle then made a U-turn, crossed the double-yellow lines and veered close to the officer. The officer turned on his headlights. A passenger in that SUV rolled down the window and fired several shots at the officer with a fully automatic gun. The officer returned fire before the SUV raced off eastbound toward Lake Isabella. Officer Bunting told investigators he believes he may have struck the shooter. Officials say the officer tried to chase them, but his patrol car had a flat tire. The officer was struck in the hand and in the chest, but he was wearing a protective vest. He was treated for his injuries and released from Kern Medical Center. The suspect vehicle is described as a dark blue 2000s model SUV, like a Yukon, with large 24-inch chrome wheels, bullet holes on the left-hand side and a broken left rear window where the shooter was sitting.
The shooter is described as a Hispanic male, wearing a light colored tank top, possibly suffering gunshot wounds. The driver is also described as a Hispanic male, last seen wearing a white cowboy hat and button up shirt.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111, or the Kern Secret Witness program at (661) 322-4040.