Logan Reyes Injured in Bakersfield Deputy Shooting

Logan Reyes, 18, Hospitalized After Deputy-Involved Shooting Following a Pembroke Avenue Traffic Stop

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (November 3, 2026) – An 18-year-old man identified as Logan Reyes was injured in a deputy-involved shooting in Bakersfield.

Kern County officials are saying that the shooting occurred after a traffic stop that began around 1:10 a.m. on Friday, October 9. Logan Reyes was driving when a Kern County Sheriff’s deputy tried to pull his vehicle over, and he stopped in the 5400 block of Pembroke Avenue.

According to the sheriff’s office, Reyes then got out of the vehicle and ran on foot before a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Emergency medical crews were called, and Reyes was treated for his injuries at the scene before being taken to a local hospital.

Logan Reyes survived the shooting, and no deputies or other civilians were hurt, according to the sheriff’s office. After his release from the hospital, Reyes was arrested and booked on suspicion of evading, resisting arrest, and several firearm- and drug-related offenses.

The sheriff’s office has not said how many shots were fired, what Reyes was doing at the moment he was shot, or the extent of his injuries. KCSO said it will release further information and a video presentation at the conclusion of its investigation.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has operated since 2020 under a stipulated judgment with the California Attorney General requiring use-of-force and supervision reforms. In March 2026, a judge granted the state two more years of oversight after the Department of Justice reported that KCSO remained only partially compliant or noncompliant on use of force and supervisory oversight.

California’s critical incident disclosure law generally requires agencies to release recordings of officer shootings within 45 days unless they show disclosure would substantially interfere with an investigation. Whether body camera footage captured the moments before shots were fired could be central to understanding what happened.

Liability for Bakersfield Deputy Shooting

California’s Penal Code section 835a allows a peace officer to use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Deadly force against a fleeing person is permitted only for a felony that threatened or caused death or serious injury, and only if the officer reasonably believes the person will cause death or serious injury unless immediately apprehended. People injured by excessive force may bring claims under federal civil rights law and California statutes, though claims against a public agency generally must first be presented through a government claim within six months. Courts reviewing these cases focus on several recurring questions:

• Imminent Threat: Deadly force is generally justified only when a person appears to have the present ability, opportunity, and intent to cause death or serious injury.
• Fleeing Persons: Running from officers, on its own, does not justify deadly force under California law or the Constitution.
• Warnings: Officers are expected to identify themselves and warn that deadly force may be used whenever it is feasible to do so.
• Tactics: California law treats an officer’s conduct leading up to a shooting as part of the totality of the circumstances.
• Evidence: Body-worn camera footage, dashcam video, radio traffic, and forensic analysis often determine whether a shooting complied with the law.

The U.S. Supreme Court set the constitutional limits on shooting people who run from police in Tennessee v. Garner (1985). In that case, a Memphis officer shot and killed a teenager who was fleeing a suspected burglary, even though the officer was reasonably sure the young man was unarmed. The Court held that deadly force may not be used to prevent a suspect’s escape unless the officer has probable cause to believe the person poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. The decision made clear that apprehending someone with deadly force is a seizure governed by the Fourth Amendment’s reasonableness requirement. Garner, together with California’s stricter statutory standard, frames how courts evaluate whether shooting a fleeing person was justified.

How Often California Officers Use Serious Force

Police shootings and other serious uses of force remain a regular occurrence across California. According to the California Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies reported 619 incidents in 2025 that involved the discharge of a firearm or force resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Of the 633 civilians involved in those incidents, 204 were struck by gunfire, 416 were injured, and 127 died. Officers perceived 337 of those civilians as armed, but only 279 were confirmed to be armed. Several tools help injured people and the public understand these incidents:

• State Reporting: Every California law enforcement agency must report shootings and serious uses of force to the Department of Justice each month.
• Personnel Records: State transparency laws allow the public to request records of officer shootings.
• Independent Review: Under AB 1506, the Department of Justice investigates officer shootings that kill unarmed civilians.
• Medical Records: Hospital records documenting wounds, surgeries, and follow-up care are critical evidence of the injuries a person suffered.
• Witnesses: Neighbors, home security cameras, and bystanders can provide accounts independent of the officers involved.

With hundreds of Californians injured by police force each year, many live with lasting physical and emotional harm. Survivors often face long recoveries, medical bills, and lost income, sometimes alongside criminal cases. An arrest does not erase a person’s constitutional right to be free from excessive force. People injured by law enforcement may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering when the force used was unlawful.

Investigating Deputy Shootings in Bakersfield

We at Feher Law wish a full and speedy recovery to Logan Reyes. We hope the investigation into this shooting is thorough and transparent, and that its findings help prevent unnecessary uses of deadly force in Kern County. A deputy opening fire after a traffic stop raises serious safety concerns for the surrounding neighborhood. What did the deputy perceive in the moments before firing, and did it justify the use of deadly force?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a police or deputy shooting in Bakersfield or elsewhere in Kern County? California law places firm limits on when officers may use deadly force, and people hurt by unlawful force may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost income, and the disruption to daily life. In these cases, the law enforcement agency typically controls the footage, radio recordings, and investigative files, and its early public accounts are often brief and incomplete. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from body-worn camera video and dispatch audio to independent witness accounts and medical records. If you have questions about your legal rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.