BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Kern County jury on Friday reached a partial verdict in the trial of Jonathan Knight, charged with murder in the death of 5-year-old Kason Guyton.
Jurors said they have not been able to reach a verdict on the charges related to Kason’s killing. Judge Charles R. Brehmer has sent them back to deliberate further.
Deliberations resume Monday.
They did, however, find Knight guilty of several charges in connection with a shooting on Remington Avenue in 2019 in which no one was injured. Guilty verdicts were reached on charges of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle, assault with a gun and possession of a gun by a felon.
Prosecutors say Knight targeted a rival gang member on Feb. 23, 2017, and unintentionally hit Kason and Kason’s then-7-year-old brother in a car-to-car shooting at California Avenue and S Street.
Kason died; his brother, who had a bullet pass through his leg, survived.
Jeremy King, Knight’s former co-defendant, testified he drove the car Knight fired from. King accepted a plea deal in exchange for his testimony and a sentence of six years. He has enough custody credits that he’s expected to be released when sentenced next month.