Suspect Taken Into Custody After Allegedly Firing On Kids Standing In Line At Ice Cream Truck
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Police have taken a shooting suspect in custody in San Bernardino after a nearly seven hour standoff.
Authorities said the suspect was wanted for firing at kids standing in line for ice cream.
The man reportedly struck the truck and another vehicle with gunfire.
No injuries were reported.
KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo reported from the scene where witnesses told her the man just started firing at the truck around 3:30 p.m.
One young woman was taken to the hospital suffering from an apparent panic attack, Fajardo reported.
The standoff with police is taking place in the 700 block of W. 19th Street, between H and G Streets.
As of 10 p.m. police said the man has also fired on authorities.
Police said the man has refused to talk to them and "has been ranting."
By 11:30 p.m., police had fired tear gas into the home and it appeared that smoke was coming from the home. It was unclear if the smoke and fire were related to the tear gas.
Residents in nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, Fajardo reported.
Witnesses describe the alleged gunman as a middle aged man who they often said creates a nuisance in the neighborhood over garbage or mail boxes. (Some reports also said the man was between 50 and 60.)
At the time of the shooting, witnesses told Fajardo there were several kids standing in line for ice cream.
A 9-year-old witness told Fajardo the unidentified man screamed, "You [expletive], you better get inside."
It was unclear to whom the man was allegedly screaming.
The 9-year-old said as he began running, the man pointed the gun at him.
Another young woman said she saw the man in the middle of the street firing. That girl's uncle got her down on the ground and said she and two other kids were covered in broken glass after a bullet shattered a car window.
The girl was so panicked, her mother told Fajardo she had to take the young woman to the hospital.
"This guy just came out his house and starting shooting us," said Adrian Negrete, "Shooting at us, the ice cream truck."
Fajardo spoke to several frightened children who didn't want their faces shown.
One 9-year-old said, "He just said he was going to start shooting kids. He started shooting at me and then he started shooting at other kids."
