The motive? It's a gang thing. And his name is Rayshawn, not Ray.

Why didn't they take him to Memorial?    It's just down the street.

The suspects escaped on foot.  They must have been confident that they wouldn't be pursued by neighbors.

In all probabilty the victim was uninsured. Memorial doesn't have to take those who have no health insurance.

Audrey, probably because the EMT's thought his gunshots were serious. KMC is a higher level trauma center.

With the risk of sounding like Timec or Maggie  let me say, can't we go one flippin day in the town without a killing?

Nope Audrey. Parts of this town are a small urban ghetto.

You're right OB.  As the town grows so do the problems. 

That's what the negative bloggers forget.   It's the influence of big city problems that's making Bakersfield a bad place to live not the influence of it's original people.

Adam, insurance had nothing to do with it.  Unless it's changed since I retired  patients like this guy would be taken to the hospital that could take care of him.  Sometimes the ER's are so full you can't pick and choose where to take someone.  All hospitals are required to provide emergency service to anyone even if they don't have insurance, if that has changed I would be surprised.  KMC  usually has the most physicians available in the ER. It may be different now.  Everyone gets medical care in emergency rooms even if they are illegal aliens with zero ID or money.

KMC as creepy as the place is...does have the very best trauma team.  When my son was injured by a hit and run driver in 2005, the ambulance driver said he was going to KMC and I was like "OH HELL NO YOU ARE NOT TAKING MY SON TO THAT GHETTO PLACE!!!" My son's whole forehead was ripped open and I had no idea how they would fix it or if they could.  Now he has only a trace of a scar and the trauma team was awesome and on top of things

The ER and doctors saved my daughters life and I'll always be grateful.   Son's high mucky muck surgeon insisted on doing the surgery at KMC since they were better equipped.

It's a teaching hospital..they have some of the top docs.

I used to live in this neighborhood.  That guy was killed over drugs.  Betcha money.

Agree - if I were in a serious accident, take me to KMC. I have all the insurance in the world (PPO, Aflac) but in a trauma, that's where I want to go!