SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE

On 07/05/09 at about 0034 hours the Bakersfield Police Department’s Communication Center received a call of a possible assault with a firearm near the intersection of First Street and “T” Street.  Patrol officers arrived on scene within a minute and located multiple victims of gunshots.  The victims had all been attending a family reunion/Independence Day celebration at a residence in the 200 block of “T” Street.  Arriving officers located a total of five victims who had sustained gunshot injuries.  Four were subsequently transported to local area hospitals with minor to moderate injuries.  The fifth had succumbed to his injuries and was determined to be deceased at the scene.

• Anthony Mack Johnson, 37 of, Jacksonville Texas, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
• Chrystin Johnson, the wife of the deceased, 35, also of Jacksonville Texas, sustained a moderate injury from a gunshot wound to her leg.
• Cynthia Mackey, 46, of Bakersfield, sustained a minor gunshot wound to her hand.
• Lavar Johnson, 32, of Madera, sustained a serious gunshot wound to his abdomen.
• Larry Dellouette, 62, of Los Angeles, sustained a minor gunshot wound to his foot.

Investigation has determined that the assailant, described as a black male in his late teens, possibly accompanied by another black male and a black female also in their late teens were walking south bound in the middle of the roadway in the 200 block of “T” Street.  While walking past a residence, where a large group of people were holding a family reunion, the assailant suddenly brandished a semi-automatic handgun and began to indiscriminately discharge the weapon multiple times into the crowd striking all of the victims.  The suspects then ran from the area last seen heading south bound on “T” Street approaching First Street.  

Gang involvement has not been confirmed but remains a possibility.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111 or Detective Martin Heredia at 326-3873.

UPDATE: Lavar "Big" Johnson is a mixed martial arts fighter who has a 12-3 record. He's 6-foot-2 and weights 259 pounds, according to fighter websites.