BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The woman shot by Bakersfield police last July after allegedly lunging at officers with a knife in a southwest Bakersfield Walmart parking lot is being reconsidered for a mental health diversion, according to court records from Kern County.
Deashanay Holmes was in court on Wednesday, March 18, on a hearing regarding the case, court records show.
The Bakersfield Police Department said on June 3, 2025, at around 7:43 p.m., officers were called to the Walmart on Gosford Road for a report of an assault that happened inside the store. Body camera videos from two officers were released by the department in late July.
When officers arrived, they were directed to Deashanay Holmes by store security, who identified her as the suspect in the assault, which happened inside the Walmart.
****WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT****
Police said officers talked to Holmes outside of the store and tried to calmly engage with her and understand the situation. Police said the officers noticed she was keeping one hand concealed in her purse and not responding to their efforts to communicate.
RELATED: New details on lead up & aftermath of officer- involved shooting at Walmart
Just before 8:30 p.m., Holems allegedly pulled out a knife from her purse and charged toward the officers. Police said tasers were unsuccessfully deployed, and an officer-involved shooting happened.
Police said Holmes was about 10 feet away from the involved officer at the time of the shooting. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Holmes was booked on July 16, 2025.
Comment with Bubbles
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The Bakersfield Police Department identified the officer involved in the shooting as Officer Christopher Cornejo, who joined the department in December 2024. Cornejo was placed on administrative leave following the incident, which was his first officer-involved shooting.
A motion was passed on Wednesday by Kern County judge Andrew Kendall to reconsider Holmes for a mental health diversion.
Holmes is due back in court on April 15.