21130 Hacienda Blvd.
California City, CA 93505
(760) 373-8606
PRESS RELEASE
“Father Shoots and Kills Son”
BY: Chief Steve Colerick
DATE: November 6, 2009
Shortly after midnight, police officers from the California City Police Department responded to the 21200 block of Kenniston Street to a report of a gunshot victim. Officers met Robert Lee Beard, 63 years, in the front yard of the residence. Inside the home, Officers discovered Terry Lee Dillon, 36 years, deceased in the hallway. Both subjects reside at the Kenniston home and are father and son.
Beard told detectives that he had been arguing with his son earlier in the evening, over Dillon moving out of the house. Dillon had refused, so Beard retrieved a .38 pistol and threatened Dillon to leave. A struggle ensued, and Dillon was struck twice by gunfire, and died at the scene. Beard was arrested by officers and booked into County Jail in Bakersfield on a charge of murder.
The last homicide in California City was in March of 2007, when 14 year Jamesha Terry was murdered by her uncle. That case is pending in Bakersfield Court.
Chief Steve Colerick