Gloria Orejel said a Chino Hills shooting ended late Wednesday night after deputies chased a Nissan Altima and found a kidnapping victim in the trunk. The driver and the victim were both pronounced dead at the scene, while one passenger was taken into custody.
Monteverde Drive pursuit
The incident began just after 10 p.m. on Monteverde Drive, where deputies responded to a report of shots fired and a person yelling for help. Orejel said deputies spotted the driver of a Nissan and attempted a traffic stop before a short pursuit began.
Orejel said, "The driver failed to yield and a short pursuit began." The chase ended on Wandering Ridge Drive in Chino Hills, where deputies moved in after the Nissan stopped on a residential street.
Wandering Ridge Drive scene
Orejel said the driver got out of the Nissan Altima with Oregon license plates before deputies opened fire. A passenger got out with their arms in the air, then the driver opened the trunk and shot the kidnapping victim inside before deputies returned fire.
"Apparently there was a victim inside there who had been kidnapped from the previous Monteverde (Drive) address," Orejel said. Deputies said they were initially unaware that someone was inside the trunk.
The victim was 60 years old, and the suspects were 67. No deputies were hurt in the shooting, and the sheriff's department said there were no outstanding suspects and no threat to the public after the incident.
Gregory Uthus on Chino Hills
Gregory Uthus, a neighbor living near the scene, said, "I was shocked, to be honest." He added, "This doesn't happen in Chino Hills."
The sheriff's department said residents can expect a continued law enforcement presence in the area while the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities said they expected to provide an update on the investigation sometime Thursday.
