Ontario officer-involved shooting: Suspect injured

Marc Cota-Robles Image
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Ontario officer-involved shooting under investigation
An investigation is underway into an officer-involved shooting in Ontario.

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation is underway into an officer-involved shooting of a man accused of driving a stolen box truck into officers during an attempted burglary in Ontario.

Police say officers responded to a burglary alarm around 3 a.m. at a perfume shop called La Mina de Oro near Grove Avenue and Acacia Street. Upon arrival, they found a large hole cut into the steel roll-up door at the back of the business.

The suspects, later identified as Riverside residents Juan Carlos Perez and Yessica Cerpas, ran out the back of the store and got into a stolen box truck. Officers ordered them to stop, but Perez drove the truck towards the officers and into a patrol vehicle. In response, the officers opened fire, striking Perez.

Perez, 38, was shot at least twice and taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in critical, but stable condition. No officers were injured.

Cerpas, 25, who was in the passenger side of the truck, was also taken to the hospital after being injured by shattered glass. She was later taken into custody and booked for burglary and outstanding drug-related warrants.

Authorities say they recovered stolen property inside the truck.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ontario Police Det. Gary Naranjo at (909) 395-2764.