2 guilty of murder in Q Street deadly shooting

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Two men have been found guilty of murder in the shooting death of a man last year near 34th and Q streets.

Ira Kindle and Keith Hamilton were convicted this month and face life terms in prison in the slaying of Christopher Pudwill, 37.

Prosecutors say Kindle got a gun from Hamilton then fired eight shots at Pudwill.

Hit twice, Pudwill died at the scene.

Kindle was convicted of first-degree murder, and Hamilton of second-degree murder and accessory after the fact.

“As firearm use multiplies the harm of violent crime in our community, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to keep the illegal use of firearms off our streets and out of the hands of those who would use them to harm others,” District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in a release sent Tuesday.

Kindle is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 8, Hamilton on Oct. 15.

Early on March 18, 2023, prosecutors say, Kindle and Hamilton were drinking outside the Family Food Market on 34th Street. Hamilton had a gun on him.

Upon seeing Pudwill across the street, Kindle took the gun from Hamilton, prosecutors said. A third person distracted Pudwill as Kindle shot him, according to the release.

Kindle and Hamilton “calmly walked away” and Hamilton later tried getting rid of the gun, according to the release, but police found it.

Kindle at first denied involvement. When confronted with surveillance footage of the shooting, however, he admitted firing four to six shots at Pudwill from a distance of 40 to 50 feet, according to a court document. Eight 9mm shell casings were found at the scene.

Also, a GPS ankle monitor placed him at the scene at the time of the shooting, according to the document. When arrested hours later, he was wearing clothing identical to the shooter in the video.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.