RANCHO CUCAMONGA – A Rancho Cucamonga family believes that an armed robbery that occurred on Friday night may have been the source of the Victoria Gardens active shooter rumors.
The armed robbery occurred sometime between 8:00-8:15 p.m. on Friday night. The juvenile was at Victoria Gardens with friends hanging out. The teen was carrying his MCM backpack which he had recently received for his birthday in March. The aunt of the teen said that her nephew was held at gunpoint for the backpack. The male suspect gained access to the high-end backpack and fled the scene. The teen victim ran to safety and called his father, who called authorities.
Deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga Station responded to the location. They did an area search by both ground and air but did not locate the suspect at that time. “They were able to get the surveillance around 10 pm last night,” said Crystal Davis. “The police told us there were other rumors going around at the Victoria Gardens about what happened. My nephew was able to pick the guy out of a photo lineup [that] the police provided after they obtained the footage of what happened.” According to Davis, the suspect remains at large.
A 24/7 Headline News reporter reached out to Sheriff’s officials, but they will not confirm or deny that the incident occurred at this time. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Jodi Miller said that if any information becomes available, it will be posted on the “social media platforms for Rancho Cucamonga.”
Meanwhile, the teen and his family are shaken by the incident that they report occurred in a shopping mall that they once found safe. “This experience has traumatized my 15-year-old nephew,” said Davis. “My brother, which is the victim’s dad had to watch the surveillance of his son get robbed at gunpoint.”. Davis added that there is now an arrest warrant out for the suspect. The father of the victim provided a social media photo of the suspect who goes by the name of “Sherm” involved in the robbery. The age of the suspect is unknown, but it is believed that he has an extensive juvenile criminal record.
Anyone with information should call the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department at (909)477-2800 or San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001 reference report #DR111804693.
Those wishing to make an anonymous report should call 800-78-CRIME or leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.
