Adrian Anthony Montiel was remembered as a beautiful son, a loving and caring father, and a true friend. But on Aug. 15, 2025, the 38-year-old Bakersfield man's life ended in violence along Edison Highway — allegedly because another man believed he was romantically involved with his girlfriend.
Background
Montiel had been arguing earlier that day with Samuel Magdaleno, 38, and a neighbor of the victim's near Montiel's residence on Edison Highway, according to court records obtained by regional NBC affiliate KGET. The confrontation escalated into threats that would later haunt investigators.
During the argument, Magdaleno reportedly made his intentions clear: "If I find out that it's true, I'm coming back to shoot you," according to charging documents. The Kern County Sheriff's Office received a call about the dispute and documented the incident. About two hours later, as midnight approached, deputies received another call — Montiel had been shot.
Magdaleno allegedly returned to the area of Edison Highway with a rifle and opened fire on Montiel. Deputies arrived to find the victim with a gunshot wound to his right side. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Aug. 16.
The Investigation
When investigators began piecing together what happened, they learned Magdaleno had previously threatened to shoot Montiel over his suspicions about the alleged infidelity, charging documents state. The motive appeared rooted in jealousy and distrust rather than any physical altercation between the two men.
Deputies discovered Magdaleno had fled the crime scene after shooting Montiel — but he didn't get far. He returned to his family's home nearby, where family members told investigators he was "sweating profusely, out of breath, and paranoid."
"Magdaleno was not acting like himself and told family he 'got into it' with [Montiel] and shot at him," the court record reads. He allegedly admitted to his family that he had shot Montiel and revealed he tossed the rifle near a local bridge before fleeing again when he heard sirens.
Magdaleno was arrested in October 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree burglary charges and remains held in jail without bail, according to Kern County jail records.
Key Takeaways
- Adrian Anthony Montiel, 38, died from a gunshot wound on Aug. 15, 2025, along Edison Highway in Bakersfield, California
- Samuel Magdaleno, also 38, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree burglary
- The defendant allegedly told the victim during an earlier argument: "If I find out that it's true, I'm coming back to shoot you"
- Investigators say jealousy over a suspected romantic connection between Montiel and Magdaleno's girlfriend was the alleged motive
- After the shooting, Magdaleno fled to his family's home, where he appeared sweaty, out of breath, and paranoid before confessing to relatives
What's Next
Magdaleno's trial has been scheduled for Sept. 14 in Kern County Superior Court. Prosecutors are pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a potential sentence of life in prison without parole. The case remains under investigation by the Kern County Sheriff's Office.