Teen shot before being found dead in San Joaquin County crash, sheriff says
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY — What was believed to be a deadly solo crash in San Joaquin County is now being investigated as a homicide as the driver of the vehicle was determined to have been shot, authorities said Friday.
The California Highway Patrol's Stockton division said officers responded to a single-vehicle crash at North Graham and Collier roads, just north of the Lockeford community in San Joaquin County on October 24 at 10:40 p.m.
Kenton Bluitt-Ealy, 18, was the driver and was initially believed to have died as a result of the crash.
"It just doesn't feel real, because I'm so used to him walking out and coming in and I watched him walk out and not come back in," said Jamaria Rodgers, Kenton's aunt.
Rodgers told CBS13 that the last week has had many emotions from the night they learned of her nephew's death to five days later when she said another call from investigators revealed a homicide investigation.
"It was literally like it happened again. We were notified again that he was gone," Rodgers said.
An autopsy by the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner revealed "suspicious injuries" on Bluitt, which were the result of a gunshot. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office Investigations Unit took over the case and is now investigating it as a homicide after notifying the family.
"If that autopsy wasn't requested by my mother, then what? We would have been believing that it was a car accident and a murderer would be running free, living their life, while my nephew is gone," Rodgers said.
Rodgers described her nephew as a loving, passionate, and ambitious teen. He graduated from Tokay High School in June and was working for an HVAC company in customer service. Bluitt wanted to be a data analyst or a computer programmer.
"He loves helping people, giving wherever he can whether it's anyone on the street. He'll give his last just to be somebody or to help anyone. He was everything, you know?" Rodgers said.
Rodgers wanted to share more about her nephew, who leaves behind his twin brother, mother, and grandmother to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
The sheriff's office echoed the family's call for information, urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or lives in the area to review surveillance footage.
Although there was nearly a week, complete with funeral planning, where Bluitt's family believed his death was a tragic accident, they are hoping the calls for answers make up for lost time.
Amid their grief, Rodgers told CBS13 they are also processing the delay between October 24 to the 28th, when they learned Bluitt was shot.
A spokesperson for the Lodi Unified School District released the following statement:
"We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our Tokay High graduate. Kenton Bluitt-Ealy was a cherished member of the Tokay Tiger community and the school community is grieving the loss. The site is providing supports to students who may need counseling during this time."
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said it is unknown if the incident was targeted.
"We really need your help if you guys, anyone knows anything, and we just beg of you guys to just help us," Rodger said.