A bomb scare that caused office buildings in central Bakersfield to be evacuated turned up a homemade zip gun. Police Sgt. Gary Carruesco says the gun was found inside an abandoned backpack Wednesday morning. It was loaded with a 12-gauge shotgun shell.

The scare also closed a busy connector road between California Avenue and Truxtun Extension. Mohawk Street was closed for about four and a half hours as well.

Zip guns are illegal.

SuzG and Kelli Forsch