VIDEO: Drive-By Attack Hits TV Station

Police car and ambulance with flashing lights nighttime — Photo: Shutterstock

Someone fired on a California TV newsroom twice in four days, and the bullets left no doubt.

Story Snapshot

Police are investigating two shootings at the same Bakersfield TV station within days.
Security video shows muzzle flashes from a dark car outside the building.
Investigators counted ten rounds striking a conference room and an office in the first attack.
No injuries, no arrests yet; the station says staff safety is the top priority.

What happened and what police know so far

Bakersfield police say someone shot at the KBAK/KBFX station building on two dates in the same week. Reports placed the first attack on Friday, October 9, 2026, and a second before dawn on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Officers found damage to a front window and inside the workplace. Investigators said ten bullets hit a conference room and an office during the first incident. No one was hurt in either case, and police have not announced an arrest.

Security video released from the area shows a dark-colored car pulling up outside the station. The footage appears to capture bright muzzle flashes from the vehicle as shots ring out. Police asked anyone with information to call a public tip line for the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. The station’s owner, Sinclair, said it is working with police and stressed that employee safety comes first.

Evidence, timing, and the search for a suspect

Detectives have physical damage, bullet impacts, and video from outside the station to guide the case. The reports do not name a weapon or confirm plate details from the video. The first shooting was not reported until Sunday, when staff noticed damage at the site, which may affect how quickly early clues were gathered. Police have not shared a motive. The repeat nature of the attacks and the narrow time window suggest an active, focused investigation.

Published accounts cite different dates for the first incident, with several pointing to October 9 as the Friday attack. That matters for pinning down dispatch logs, retrieval of nearby camera footage, and any license plate reader hits. Bakersfield police will likely compare bullets and impacts from both scenes to see if the same firearm was used. That step can help confirm whether one shooter returned or if two separate events hit the same location.

Why this matters beyond one newsroom

Local newsrooms are workplaces that often sit on busy streets with glass fronts and late hours. That mix can draw the wrong kind of attention. This case fits a pattern where threats and violence shadow reporting work, even when motive is not clear. A 2024 International Women’s Media Foundation report found that over one in three United States journalists reported threats or physical violence in their work, highlighting a broad risk environment. Those are self-reports of exposure, not court-proven attacks.

Police are investigating a second shooting incident where shots were fired at our sister TV station in Bakersfield. The first shooting happened Friday night and the second happened early this morning.https://t.co/wWYiyJbUjm

— FOX26 News (@KMPHFOX26) October 13, 2026

Public safety and free speech ideals meet at the station’s front door. American conservative values prize law and order as the first duty of government. On the facts, this case calls for firm policing, steady communication, and due process. The station owner’s cooperation aligns with common sense: secure the site, support staff, and share evidence with investigators. The most helpful public act now is simple: if you saw the car or heard the gunfire, call the police tip line.

What to watch next in the investigation

Look for Bakersfield police to release clearer stills of the vehicle if image enhancement helps. Watch for confirmation on the firearm link between the two scenes. Expect a refined timeline that matches surveillance from nearby businesses with the station’s footage. If police identify the car’s make or plate, search warrants and recovery of the weapon may follow. Until then, the key facts stand: two shootings, visible damage, no injuries, and a determined hunt for whoever pulled the trigger.