Man pleads not guilty to shooting that killed 1, hurt 4
The man suspected of a 2018 shooting pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday in Kern County Superior Court.
Christopher Nathaniel Kenney, 25, was charged in February with one count of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
Kenney was arrested in Stonecrest, Ga., in June, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. According to Kern County Sheriff’s booking records, Kenney was transferred to Kern County on Friday — nearly six years after the shooting for which he is charged.
He appeared in court Monday morning for his arraignment and to return a bench warrant, according to the court’s spokesperson, Kristin Davis. Davis said Kenney is being represented by the Kern County Public Defender’s Office.
Kenney is suspected of shooting and killing Jeremy Charles Littlejohn, 20, on Sept. 23, 2018, according to BPD. According to a probable cause statement submitted by BPD to the court, Kenney and Littlejohn were members of rival gangs.
According to a BPD news release, four other people were also injured in the 2018 shooting.
Kenney also has a second court case where he was charged with second-degree robbery in January. According to the KCSO probable cause statement submitted to the court, on Dec. 19, Kenney robbed someone at a recycling center and then fled in his girlfriend’s car.
Kenney’s next court hearing for both cases is scheduled for Sept. 16. He is being held without bail.