PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) — Two men in their 30s from the Bakersfield area were killed in a shooting Friday morning outside the Entrussed manufacturing facility near Date Avenue and Main Street in Porterville, according to police.
The shooting occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Police identified the victims as men in their 30s from the Bakersfield area. Family members of one victim, Matthew Gandara, said they believe the men were targeted.
“It seems to be a set-up, by all means. There’s a getaway car. They waited for them to get here and they shot them,” said Ricky Robles, Gandara’s brother.
Robles said his brother had recently turned 30 and had been traveling from Kern County for work.
“You could do anything you ever wanted to, and um, he chose to cut lumber for the point being to pay his car payments, pay rent, and just make a living,” Robles said.
According to the family, Gandara had been commuting for employment opportunities.
“They drove up here every day from Bakersfield and they drove to Shafter every day. Then that company went down and they’re just chasing down work,” Robles said.
After learning of the shooting, Robles and other family members traveled from Bakersfield to Porterville.
“A lot of hearts, you know, broken right now. A lot of families, from both sides, fiancé’s here of the other co-worker,” Robles said.
Porterville Police Chief Bobby Rader said the shooting has unsettled the community.
“When things like this happen in a smaller community, it has implications and people were afraid, are afraid, and are concerned with what happened here,” Rader said.
Investigators later discovered the charred remains of a burned vehicle about a half-mile south of the shooting scene. Police believe the vehicle may be connected to the case.
“We are working it as if it’s related, but that’s the extent of what I can say about it now,” Rader said.
Robles said the family is seeking answers as the investigation continues.
“We want answers and as we know right now, that the guys are loose and still out,” he said.
The shooting marks the second and third homicides of the year in the city of Porterville.
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