Robbery at Ming Lake leads to chase and death: Documents

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Three men approached him at Lake Ming with guns drawn. They threatened to kill him, pushed him into a vehicle and beat him. One ripped a chain from his neck and took off the gold pendant.

He made his way out and the attackers began to leave – but he had no intention of letting them escape, according to the alleged victim’s statement to sheriff’s investigators.

He pursued them in his vehicle until one of the suspects began shooting. The alleged victim skidded to avoid the gunshot, sped down Comanche Drive and crashed into the suspect’s vehicle south of Highway 178, according to his statement and information from sheriff’s officials.

The suspect’s vehicle rolled over several times and one of the occupants was thrown out, the statement said. He died at the scene of the accident.

The other suspects – Bequer Arellano-Lopez, 25, and Brayan Moreno-Cazares, 19 – fled but were arrested after an “intensive search” by officers, the statement said. Several weapons were found during the search of the area, including an AR-15-style rifle, investigators said.

According to the statement, a gold pendant was found in Moreno-Cazares’ bag.

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

The third suspect and the alleged victim are not named in the statement.

The alleged victim told investigators he did not know the suspects, but Arellano-Lopez said they had arranged to meet him under the pretense of buying weapons, the statement said.

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

He said there was a struggle over several weapons in the back seat of the suspect vehicle, during which the alleged victim was disarmed, the statement said. The chase ensued, and Arellano-Lopez said he lost control of the vehicle after the collision, causing it to overturn.