Incident details
- Date of incident
- October 13, 2026
- Location
- Bakersfield, California
- Equipment damaged
- Actor
- Private individual
Equipment Damage
A screengrab of police investigating a shooting at the joint KBAK-TV and KBFX-CD studios in Bakersfield, California. The sister stations were targeted in separate shootings on Oct. 9 and Oct. 13, 2026.
California television stations KBAK-TV and KBFX-CD were struck by gunfire for a second time in four days when additional shots hit their joint Bakersfield studios the morning of Oct. 13, 2026.
The first shooting occurred the night of Oct. 9, when a gunman fired 10 shots into a conference room and an office. Surveillance footage released by the station shows a dark vehicle stopping outside the building before apparent muzzle flashes appear near the driver-side window. The vehicle then speeds away.
During the second shooting, officers found multiple bullet strikes and recovered 11 shell casings. Three employees were inside during the second shooting, but no one was injured, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
At the time, Jessica Bellucci, a spokesperson for the sister stations’ parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, said they were taking steps to secure the workplace.
Police arrested a Bakersfield woman, Thomashana Renee Zeigler, on Oct. 15 after stopping her vehicle en route to the station, according to a department news release.
Officers found a handgun that police said matched shell casings recovered at the scene, along with an additional loaded magazine. Search warrants led investigators to recover additional firearms and evidence connected to the investigation, police said.
Detectives also uncovered further threats against the station and prevented what police described as a potential third shooting.
In a statement, Bellucci, the Sinclair spokesperson, said the company was relieved by the arrest and grateful for police efforts.
Zeigler faces multiple charges, including shooting at an occupied building and carrying a loaded firearm.
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