Robbery at Lake Ming leads to vehicle chase, death: docs

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Three men approached him at Lake Ming, guns drawn. They threatened to kill him, shoved him in a vehicle and beat him. One tore a chain from his neck and removed its gold pendant.

He shoved his way out and the assailants started to leave — but he wasn’t about to let them slip away, according to an account of the late June incident the alleged victim gave sheriff’s investigators.

He chased after them in his vehicle until one of the suspects started shooting. Sliding down to avoid gunfire, the alleged victim sped along Comanche Drive and crashed into the suspect vehicle south of Highway 178, according to his statement and information provided by sheriff’s officials.

The suspect vehicle rolled over several times and one of its occupants was ejected, according to the declaration. He died at the scene.

The other suspects — Bequer Arellano-Lopez, 25, and Brayan Moreno-Cazares, 19 — ran but were arrested after an “intensive search” by deputies, according to the declaration. Multiple guns, including an AR-15-style rifle, were located during a search of the area, investigators said.

A gold pendant was found in Moreno-Cazares’ pocket, according to the declaration.

Arellano-Lopez and Moreno-Cazares have each pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, attempted murder and robbery among them. They’re being held without bail and are due back in court next week.

The third suspect and the alleged victim aren’t named in the declaration.

The alleged victim told investigators he didn’t know the suspects. But Arellano-Lopez said they arranged to meet him under the pretense of buying guns, according to the declaration.

They never planned to pay, Arellano-Lopez told investigators.

He said there was a struggle over multiple guns in the back seat of the suspect vehicle during which the alleged victim was disarmed, according to the declaration. The chase ensued and Arellano-Lopez said he lost control of the vehicle after the collision, and it overturned.

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