Francisco Serna, a father of five, was walking in Silver Birch Avenue in Bakersfield when neighbors called police, reporting that a man had brandished a handgun in the street, International Business Times reported.
When police arrived, neighbors pointed out Serna, who was then shot by an officer and pronounced dead at the scene.
“There were orders given that Serna ignored,” Bakersfield Police Sergeant Gary Carruesco told the Los Angeles Times. After searches were conducted, however, no gun was found, Carruseco confirmed.
Serna’s son, Rogelio Serna, said his dad was out in the street as he tended to have trouble sleeping.
Francisco Serna
In a video posted on the son’s account, he said: “Right across the street is where police shot my father with nine bullets to his body and my dad was not armed. There are false reports about my father having weapons. He was never armed.”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the younger Serna also said: “He was a 73-year-old retired grandpa, just living life.
