By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-15 14:35:59 | Updated at 2026-08-15 14:49:05
19 minutes ago
A grieving California father is recounting the heartbreaking final moments he spent holding his dying son after he was gunned down in a shooting allegedly involving a pack of minors.
Vernon “Wes” Lancaster and his son, Eric Lancaster, 53, were both shot on the 800 block of Crane Street in Bakersfield in mid-July.
But while Wes survived, his son did not.
“Seeing my son go down and seeing his fixed eyes. That is something I will never forget. His eyes were just fixed,” Wes told KGET News.
Wes said he desperately reached for his son after he was shot, trying to keep him alive.
“When my son fell, I reached over as hard as I could to hold his hand and tell him to stay with us. Stay with us. And it was too late. It was too late already,” he also told ABC23.
Three juveniles – ages 12, 13 and 16 – were arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, and participation in a criminal street gang, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
The three suspects are accused of opening fire on the father and son, leaving Eric dead and Wes wounded.
The Lancasters were minding their own business when the group of teens tried to steal the backpack from the son. Eric then attempted to flee with his bike and was shot.
“He got caught up in it randomly. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t do anything. He didn’t know those kids,” Wes also said.
The 16-year-old was the first to be detained and was also arrested in connection to an unrelated investigation.
The 12-year-old also faces additional charges of two counts of assaults with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of a handgun by a minor while the 13-year-old was charged with assault and participating in a criminal street gang.
