TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

A standoff between Bakersfield police and a suspected murderer Wednesday resulted in the lockdown of six schools and ended with the arrest of one of four suspected gang members police believe is responsible for the stabbing death of a rival gang member.

Patrol officers and SWAT team members surrounded an apartment in the 1100 block of Eye Street after learning 37-year-old Encarnacion Barrientos was inside, police said. Barrientos and two others forced open a window screen and were about to leave the rear of the apartment when police made their presence known and ordered them to come out.

Barrientos was arrested on suspicion of murder and participation in a criminal street gang. The man and woman in the apartment with him are unconnected to the homicide, police said.

Three men are wanted on warrants on the same charges as Barrientos in connection with the killing of Cruz Martinez in the 1000 block of Meredith Drive on Monday, police said. Those men have been identified as Vincente Adam Perez, 24, Luis Montenegro, 29, and Adam Velasquez, 26.

Martinez was found unresponsive by police near the front door of a residence where he had knocked for help after being stabbed, police said. He died from a single puncture wound to the chest. Martinez, a documented gang member, suffered the injury while in a fight with Barrientos, Perez, Montenegro and Velasquez in the 900 block of Meredith, according to police.

Bakersfield High, William Penn Elementary, Emerson Middle, Roosevelt Elementary, McKinley Elementary and St. Francis Parish schools were placed on lockdown, police said.

The lockdowns lasted less than two hours, with Bakersfield High having the longest lockdown beginning about 11 a.m. and lasting until about 12:45 p.m., police said.
The lockdown seemed to run smoothly, several BHS students said.

Josue Mestanza, 15, was going to lunch when security told him to either go to the cafeteria or the gym for the lockdown. The cafeteria was already packed, so Mestanza headed to the gym.

“I thought it was a drill,” Mestanza said.

He and friends played games of “hangman” and “tic-tac-toe” to pass the time. Mestanza said he became a little nervous afterward when he found out there had been a murder suspect in the area.

Cristina Salazar said she spent her time during the lockdown wondering what was happening and eventually fell asleep.

Esmeralda Dukes and Yudit Rochin, both 15, were in the cafeteria when security told them to stay put. Food service shut down, and students talked about what could possibly be going on, Dukes said. Some said there was a fight; others thought there were people armed with guns in the area, she said.

After spending such a long time waiting for news and not having much to do, students in the cafeteria were ready when the lockdown was lifted.

“Everybody ran out,” Dukes said.