An unarmed 73-year-old grandfather was allegedly shot fatally by a Bakersfield, California, police officer early Monday morning. The said old man has dementia according to the bereaved family.
Francisco Serna was in the driveway of a neighbor's home in Bakersfield's Silver Creek community around 12:30 a.m. when the incident happened. A witness pointed to him to an officer investigating a report of a man having a firearm in the area.
Bakersfield police spokesman Sgt. Gary Carruesco said that the officer, not yet publicly identified, has fired several rounds at Serna, who was declared dead at the scene at 1:15 a.m. by the Kern County corner's office, NBC News reported.
There were no guns or weapons found around the scene, KBAK-TV reported. Police canvassed the area as well as Serna's home and car, The Times said.
Serna was a father of five children and retired cotton gin worker. His home is just on the block where the shooting happened.
Son Rogelio Serna was just a few blocks away and went to the scene immediately after hearing the news. He said that his dad did not own a gun at all.
"He was a 73-year-old retired grandpa, just living life. He should have been surrounded by family at old age, not surrounded by bullets." Rogelio told in an interview with Los Angeles Times.
Rogelio shared that his father often had difficulty at sleeping and would even on late-night walks to become tired and be able to sleep when he gets home.
Serna showed early signs of dementia in 2015. His son Rogelio said that he occasionally experienced delusions.
Bakersfield police were called to the now-deceased grandfather's home twice before as a response to an activated medical alarm, according to The Times. The officer who killed Serna is now on administrative leave, as KBAK-TV reported.
