31-05-2025
Gunman arrested after man found shot to death at San Bernardino County home
A suspect was arrested after a man was found shot to death at a San Bernardino County home.
On May 23, San Bernardino County deputies responded to reports of shots fired at a home 16000 block of Sequoia Street in Hesperia around 6:14 a.m.
Authorities found the victim, Blake Rutledge, 27, of Hesperia, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The gunman, along with several others, had fled the area after the shooting.
Detectives later identified Ermes Bustamante, 37, of Victorville, as the primary suspect. A week later, on May 30, authorities tracked Bustamante down and took him into custody.
He was arrested for murder and booked at the High Desert Detention Center, where he is being held on $1 million bail.
Further details, including the motive behind the shooting and how the suspect and victim were known to each other, were not released.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call SBSD's Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
