San Bernardino County deputies discovered a man fatally shot inside the trunk of a car after the alleged kidnapper fired into the trunk while surrounded by law enforcement in Chino Hills on July 29. The driver was struck in a deputy-involved shooting; both the suspect and the trunk victim were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was arrested and was not injured, and no deputies were harmed. Authorities say an update was expected on July 31 as the investigation continues.
Kidnapping Suspect Fatally Shot After Opening Fire Into Trunk; Victim Found Dead in Chino Hills
A kidnapping victim was found fatally shot in the trunk of a car after his alleged captor opened fire into the trunk as deputies surrounded the vehicle in a California neighborhoodCredit: CBS LA/Youtube
A kidnapping victim was found fatally shot inside the trunk of a car after the alleged abductor fired into the open trunk while San Bernardino County deputies surrounded the vehicle in Chino Hills on the night of July 29, authorities said.
What Happened
At about 10:14 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 2100 block of Monteverde Drive after a caller reported hearing gunshots and someone screaming. While en route, deputies observed a speeding vehicle and attempted a traffic stop; at that time they were not yet aware that a kidnapping had taken place. The driver led officers on a short pursuit that ended on Wandering Ridge Drive.
Deputies ordered both occupants to exit the vehicle. The passenger complied and was taken into custody; the driver initially refused to follow commands. After stepping out of the car, the driver walked to the open trunk and fired a handgun into it. Deputies returned fire in a deputy-involved shooting that struck the driver.
Deputies and medical personnel performed lifesaving measures on both the man found in the trunk and the wounded suspect, but both were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later determined the man in the trunk had been shot and abducted at the Monteverde Drive address before the pursuit.
"It is disturbing," sheriff's spokeswoman Gloria Orejel told ABC7, noting that a victim had been taken from the earlier Monteverde Drive location.
No deputies were injured during the incident. The passenger who was arrested was not injured. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told reporters it would not release additional details immediately and expected to provide an update on July 31 as detectives continue to investigate the motive and any relationships among those involved.
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