BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Opening statements have begun in the case of a man charged with murder in the shooting death of an alleged former East Side Bakers gang member who a witness said owed “tax money” to the gang for drug sales.

Rodrigo Lara, 32, faces a life term in prison if convicted.

17 News is live blogging opening statements.

Early on Aug. 25 of last year, police went to the 400 block of Lloyd Street — north of Brundage Lane and east of Union Avenue — after a ShotSpotter activation registered eight gunshots, according to court documents. They found a man in a driveway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A party had recently ended and only a few people were around when shots were fired around 3 a.m.

A search of the victim’s cellpho

See Full Page