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Only On 9: Deputies In Rancho Cucamonga Fatally Shoot Mountain Lion

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com)   —  Sheriff's Deputies in Rancho Cucamonga fatally shot a mountain lion Saturday morning.

Officials said the lion got into a residential area.

The shooting occurred about 8:20 a.m. in the 6300 block of Moonstone Avenue, authorities said.

It's a story Only On KCAL9.

Saturday morning, two mountain lions were spotted jumping back and forth in back yards on Moonstone and in the 8800 block of Somerset Drive.

Deputies arrived just after 6:45 Saturday morning and warned residents to stay indoors while they searched the area.

About 45 minutes later, a homeowner in the 6300 block of Moonstone reported seeing a mountain lion in the backyard of their residence. Deputies and animal control officers responded and located an adult lion in a corner of the yard.

Deputies said the responding public safety personnel maintained a respectful and non-threatening distance to observe and assess the animal.

A deputy shot the mountain lion around 8:20 a.m. believing it was a threat. The lion died from the gunshot wound.

Bobby Kaple, reporting for KCAL9, spoke to a neighbor who captured one of the mountain lions on tape.

"I was scared, the door was open," said Michelle Castaneda who witnessed the lion.  "I'm running."

He also spoke to attendants at a senior care living facility. One of the cats showed up in the facility's back yard.

"First thing that came to my mind is, is she going to attack us, or what?" said Jeffrey Sunga. "So we locked up all the doors and windows to make sure nothing is going to happen."

Rowen Dizon, who shot the video,  expected the lion would leave after a while.

"He looked very dangerous," said Dizon.

He called everyone.

"I called and said, 'Hey, there's a big lion here.'" Dizon said. "I thought he would run away. But he just didn't. Then we called 911."

Neighbors didn't believe officers didn't try to tranquilize the animal first.

Kaple asked authorities why tranquilizer darts weren't used.

He was told that deputies didn't have them and there were no Fish and Game wardens in the vicinity.

 

 

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