Bakersfield— 39-year-old Fernando Padilla of Bodfish was fatally shot by Kern County Sheriff’s deputies on January 11, 2026. gun-g5d7c2870a_640

Incident Details

At around 1:40 a.m., deputies assigned to the Kern Valley Substation were called to the area of Kilbreth Avenue and Lake Isabella Boulevard for reports of a man firing a handgun. Upon contact with Padilla, deputies say he fled to the area of Highway 178. At some point during the encounter, and for reasons yet to be disclosed, an officer involved shooting occurred. Padilla was struck by gunfire, and despite life saving efforts from both officers and arriving medical personnel, would be pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation into this incident is underway.

Legal Oversight and Use-of-Force Standards

Under California law, the use of lethal force by peace officers is governed by California Penal Code § 835a, which permits officers to fire their weapons only when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or others.

Key considerations in the review will include:

  • Whether the individual’s actions posed an immediate and serious threat; 
  • Whether officers attempted de-escalation or less-lethal means, and whether those options were feasible under the circumstances; 
  • Whether departmental policy, training, and use-of-force protocol were followed properly. 

If investigators find that the force used was unjustified or excessive under the circumstances, the shooting could give rise to civil-rights or wrongful-death claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Seeking Accountability for Officer-Involved Shootings

If you witnessed this incident, knew Fernando Padilla, were in the area, or are seeking to understand your rights after a police use-of-force event:

1. Request Public Records

You may request:

  • The full incident report and arrest record 
  • Officer statements and communications 
  • Body-worn-camera or patrol-vehicle dash-cam footage 

2. Preserve Any Evidence You Have

Document your exact time, location, what you saw or heard, and your vantage point. Save any photos or videos you captured — including audio — and note relevant environmental details (lighting, proximity, bystanders).

3. Consult With a Civil-Rights Attorney

If you believe that the force used was unreasonable, department protocols violated, or constitutional rights infringed, legal options may be available.

If you or a loved one has been impacted by an officer-involved shooting such as this one involving Fernando Padilla, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our team.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.