Witness describes shootout between San Bernardino PD, chase suspects

Leanne Suter Image
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Witness describes shootout between San Bernardino PD, chase suspects
A witness to a shootout between San Bernardino police and chase suspects inside a dark SUV described the massive gun battle.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- A witness to a shootout between San Bernardino police and chase suspects inside a dark SUV described the massive gun battle.

The gunfire happened near Richardson Street and San Bernardino Boulevard, which is 1 mile south of a mass shooting scene that happened inside the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino Wednesday.

Witness Jose Rocha, who was driving behind the vehicles, said he heard hundreds of shots fired after the short pursuit ended at the scene of the shooting between 3 and 4 p.m. He said the gun battle lasted for about one minute.

Rocha caught part of the gunfire on cellphone video.

The male and female suspects inside the vehicle were pronounced dead, according to San Bernardino police. One suspect was down next to the SUV and witnesses said the person had a large firearm next to them. The body of the second possible suspect was inside the vehicle and was pulled out by authorities after the gun battle.

One officer was struck in the gun battle with non-life threatening injuries.

Other witnesses to the standoff said the incident was frightening as the gunfire happened in a residential area.

David Danelski, a reporter with the Press Enterprise, described the gunfire between suspects and police in San Bernardino Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015.

Joey Perez, a 10-year-old witness, said he was coming home from school when the shootout was happening.

Joey Perez, a 10-year-old witness, described the shootout between San Bernardino police and chase suspects following a mass shooting.