Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Victorville, Calif. – A shootout in Victorville on Friday afternoon left a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sergeant wounded and the suspect dead. According to officials, the suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Jorge Cardenas, a resident of Ontario.
The incident began when the sheriff’s dispatch center received a distress call reporting a man with a gun at the Arco/ampm located at 13660 Bear Valley Road. The caller, who was later revealed to be the suspect’s girlfriend, informed dispatch that Cardenas was armed and had locked herself inside the bathroom of the establishment.
Responding to the call, Sergeant Andersen was the first to arrive at the scene. Approaching the suspect just outside the business, he attempted to detain him. However, Cardenas ran into the store, turned, and pointed his weapon at the sergeant. In the ensuing confrontation, both the suspect and the sergeant were struck by gunfire.
Sergeant Andersen, a 16-year veteran of the department, sustained two gunshot wounds to his legs – one in his thigh and another in his shin. He was promptly transported by ambulance to Liberty Park and subsequently airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment. Thankfully, his condition has since stabilized.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus expressed his concerns about the escalating number of officer-involved shootings in the area. “Right now, the average number of officer-involved shootings I’m seeing, from last November forward, is almost two a month,” he stated during a press conference outside the hospital.
Following the incident, detectives from the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division assumed control of the investigation, which lasted into the following day. As a result, the Arco/ampm was temporarily closed to facilitate the inquiry.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Justin Applegate of the Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904. Callers can choose to remain anonymous and may also reach out to We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or visit www.wetip.com.
As the investigation continues, the community remains vigilant, with updates on the incident being shared through various social media platforms. To stay informed, individuals are encouraged to join the Facebook newsgroup with over 165,000 members and to like and follow the official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
In the face of this tragic event, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement agencies are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community, working tirelessly to prevent further incidents of this nature.