By Patric Hedlund

Frazier Park Substation deputies and the Kern County Sheriff’s special investigations division arrested 22-year-old Shawn Sengsavang of Bakersfield on Thursday, Aug. 2 for attempted murder and assault with a firearm.

His arrest followed investigation into the shooting of Wade “Kenny” Cadwallader, 23 which occurred on the 2100 block of Symonds Drive in Pine Mountain on July 20.

Deputies served a search warrant and an arrest warrant at a home in the 2300 block of Boyd Street in Bakersfield, according to a statement from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, which said deputies seized “a handgun, handgun ammunition and other physical evidence” during the search of the home. Sengsavang is being held on $550,000 bail, according to court records.

The day after the arrest, Cadwallader was discharged from Kern Medical Center. He had undergone surgery and related procedures after being shot by one of three bullets allegedly fired by an assailant he is reported to have identified as an Asian male named “Shawn.”

A Kern County Fire Department paramedic and firefighter crew had been dispatched at about 7:50 p.m. Friday, July 20 to the wooded Pine Mountain property where the alleged attempted murder took place.

Kern County Fire Station 58 is less than 1/4 mile down Symonds Drive from the residence. Sheriffs, CHP and an ambulance helicopter worked quickly to provide medical aid, to evacuate the patient to Bakersfield and to tape off the scene for investigators.

Sengsavang had a felony arraignment on Monday, Aug. 6 in Superior Court, Taft Division. A charge of first degree robbery of an inhabited home was also included. His preliminary hearing is September 5.

Speculation among Pine Mountain residents about the basis for these events in the normally tranquil community is the source of heated dialogue in local businesses, the post office and online.

This is part of the August 10, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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