San Bernardino police shot and killed a suspect Wednesday morning after officers came under gunfire while attempting to rescue two people wounded in a shooting outside a home, authorities said.
The incident unfolded around 8:45 a.m. near Richardson Street and E. Coulston Street, just north of the 10 Freeway. Officers responding to a reported shooting found one victim in the front yard and another on the front porch.
As officers moved toward the home to help the victims, a person inside the residence opened fire on them, according to police. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect.
No officers were injured during the exchange.
Police Respond to Shooting Near San Bernardino Home
San Bernardino police Capt. Nelson Carrington said officers initially responded knowing only that a shooting had been reported.
When officers arrived, they encountered one victim before locating a second person on the porch. The situation quickly escalated when officers came under fire from inside the residence.
“We were immediately contacted by one victim as officers arrived on scene and then located a second victim on the porch,” Carrington said.
He said officers were attempting to rescue the second victim when the suspect began shooting at them.
Carrington also explained that officers responding to an active or potentially dangerous situation typically request additional personnel because they do not know what they will encounter when they arrive.
Neighbors Hear Multiple Gunshots
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood described hearing a series of gunshots as police officers converged on the area.
Neighbor Katrina Guzman said she had stopped after seeing a large police presence before hearing the gunfire.
“I just pulled over because there was like so many cops, and then I just heard all the gunshots,” Guzman said.
Another neighbor, Isidro Esparza, recalled hearing roughly 10 shots followed by a louder gunshot.
“Like about 10 shots. Just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” Esparza said. “And then after the 10th shot, you just hear a loud bang. Boom.”
Two Victims Taken to Hospital
The two shooting victims and the suspect were transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds, according to authorities.
Police said the suspect was later pronounced dead.
The two victims were reported to be in stable condition while undergoing surgery.
Authorities said one of the victims had previously been in a dating relationship with the suspect. Police have not identified the relationship between the suspect and the second victim.
Investigation Remains Underway
The circumstances surrounding the initial shooting and what led to the confrontation inside the home remain under investigation.
Police have not released additional details about the suspect or explained what preceded the reported shooting.
The investigation will also examine the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting, including the gunfire directed at officers as they attempted to reach the victims.
This is a developing story. Additional information may be released as the investigation continues.