Kern County deputies justified in the fatal shooting of a domestic violence call in Oildale

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has released body-camera and home surveillance video of a deputy-involved shooting in Oildale in March.

KCSO said on Sunday, March 10, at around 1:10 p.m., deputies responded to a report of domestic violence in the 200 block of Beardsley Avenue, near North Chester Avenue.

In the video, KCSO released audio of the 911 calls from the victim. In one of the recordings, the victim mentioned the man involved had a gun and an ax.

Deputies talked to a suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Cole Jackson Hughes, who was armed with a weapon.

Deputies issued verbal commands to de-escalate for over 20 minutes.

KCSO said at around 1:35 p.m., deputies were involved in a deputy-involved shooting.

Officials said the suspect was arrested for domestic battery, felony resisting, and brandishing a firearm. He was taken to the hospital. Hughes died just after 2 p.m. on Monday, March 11, said the coroner.

The deputy involved was not hurt. The deputy involved was not hurt. KCSO said Deputy Nicholas Rocha was placed on critical incident leave pending the completion of the investigation.

On April 4, 2024, the Kern County Sheriff's Office convened a Critical Incident Review Board examining the use of force in this incident. The use of force in this incident was determined to be within department policy.

In the video, the department emphasized how civilians in the area did not obey evacuation orders. KCSO said it created a higher level of concern for community safety.

Hughes’ wife, Lynn Hughes, contacted Eyewitness News. Hughes says she made the call to police and that it was not the first time she had done this.

All they ever do is talk to him, and he calms down,” said Hughes. “That is what I thought was going to happen.

KCSO said Cole had a deadly weapon, but Hughes says this was not the case. She told us Cole had a pellet gun and that it was unloaded.