Francisco Serna, a 73-year-old retired father of five grown children was shot and killed by police just after midnight Sunday/Monday morning. Bakersfield, California police say they were responding to a a report of a man brandishing a handgun. According to the police, Mr. Serna was in the driveway of a residence in his neighborhood—on the block where he lived—when a single officer fired “several rounds” at Serna who was pronounced dead in the driveway.
Martin said Serna failed to comply with officers' orders to stop and show his hands. The officer who fired the seven shots, Regan Selman, is on administrative leave pending an investigation, along with six other responding officers.
Police confirmed to NBC affiliate KGET on Wednesday that a crucifix was later found on Serna's body — not a gun. The finding was first reported Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times.
According to Serna’s family, he had been showing early stages of dementia. Serna’s son Rogelio also says his father liked to take walks in the evenings to tire himself out before going to bed.
“My dad did not own a gun. He was a 73-year-old retired grandpa, just living life,” Rogelio Serna said. “He should have been surrounded by family at old age, not surrounded by bullets.”
The elder Serna lived with his wife and one of his daughters. Another son lives a few blocks from where the shooting occurred. Rogelio Serna said his parents moved into Bakersfield about eight years ago, leaving Wasco so they could be closer to their children.
The Serna family says that the police had had to visit their father’s home a couple times before as he had set off his medical alarm after becoming confused. Police haven’t confirmed whether the police had visited Serna’s home before.