Kernville, CA Critical Incident Release officer involved shooting

On June 5, 2025, Kern County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a report of an armed subject who called 9-1-1 and made numerous statements that he wanted to ambush law enforcement and force them into a deadly force encounter.

Deputies spent several hours communicating with the suspect over the phone to de-escalate the situation and to locate him. While circulating the area, deputies located the suspect lying on the roof of a business pointing a rifle at deputies. An officer involved shooting occurred.

Colin Kegley, age 28, was taken into custody and taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Kegley was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a firearm, and assault with a semi automatic firearm.

On July 1, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff's Office convened an Incident Review Board examining the use of force in this incident.

The use of force in this incident was determined to be within policy.