Innocent man victim of fatal officer-involved shootout with robbery suspects in Chino

One man was killed and three others - including a police officer - were wounded Sunday night when a barrage of gunfire erupted after an attempted pizza store robbery.

Daniel Baledran, 21, of Rubidoux was shot to death by a Chino police officer near the Papa John's Pizza located on Central Avenue in Chino.

Baledran, who is considered an "innocent victim" was in the immediate area of the restaurant when shots were fired, police said.

Police officers originally thought he was part of the robbery when he was shot at, Chino Public Information Officer Michelle Van Der Linden said. But investigators determined Baledran was not a part of any criminal activity.

Witnesses said they heard hundreds of gunshots during the crossfire and more than 100 yellow evidence markers, identifying bullet casing droppings, were scattered across the parking lot Monday morning.

A Chino police officer, whose name was not released, and two suspected robbers were shot about 10:15 p.m. near the Papa Johns Pizza at 12615 Central Ave. They were taken to local hospitals.

"This is a tragic event that is still under investigation, our deepest sympathy goes out to the Baledran family during this difficult time," said Chino Police Chief Stan Stewart in a released statement.

The officer is in stable condition but the two armed suspects are in critical condition.

On Monday evening, Van Der Linden said Edward Cisneros of La Mirada and Joel Anthony Jaquez of Hacienda Heights, both about 28 years old, were awaiting surgery.

The two attempted to rob the Papa John's Pizza restaurant and opened fire on police officers as they ran from the scene, Van Der Linden said. Officers returned fire and wounded both suspects.

"There's a lot of information still under investigation," Van Der Linden said, including Baledran's location before he was shot, the types of weapons used by the robbers, how many shots were fired and how many police officers were present.

Javier Lopez, 28, who lives just blocks from the pizza restaurant said he was home with his girlfriend when the the shooting battle began.

He said they heard initial gun shots, a quick break, then gunfire was returned.

"I thought someone was happy about the Steelers winning," he said. "But the exchange made me think, 'This is something bad here.'"

Van Der Linden said the shootout was "definitely not typical," for the residential area lined with businesses, banks, restaurants and coffee shops.

Linda Fair, a veterinary clinic assistant who works across the street from Papa John's, was working at the time of the shooting. Fair said she heard the loud, rapid gunfire of what seemed like hundreds of bullets for about 10 minutes.

Fearful, Fair said she stayed inside and saw and heard nothing else during the shooting.

Fair's description was not far off.

Broken glass, bullet casings, and blood on the sidewalk were a dramatic sight Monday morning for onlookers along Central, with police tape sectioning off three prominent business properties on the heavily traveled street south of Walnut Avenue.

Around 8:30 a.m. Monday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's coroner removed the dead body near the south side of Papa Johns.

Bullet holes and shattered glass exposed the interior of nearby Daniel's Home Center merchandise to the open air as well. In front of the furniture store, two piles of dark clothing and a pair of white shoes were placed near what appeared to be several pools of blood.

The pizza restaurant, the home store and a McDonald's restaurant were closed Monday for investigation. The northbound lanes of Central were also closed from Riverside Avenue to Jefferson Avenue.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department will handle the investigation, which is ongoing, officials said.

"This is standard procedure for the Sheriff's Department to handle the investigation in an officer-involved shooting," said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

This is the second fatal officer involved shooting for the Chino police department in a little more than a year.

On Jan. 6, 2008 Jose Arturo Garcia was shot dead inside Chino Rio Ranch Market, near the corner of Riverside Drive and Oaks Avenue, after he shot two women inside the grocery store. Garcia approached his ex-girlfriend's sister and shot her in the chest. He then walked to his ex-girlfriend, shot her in the arm, and walked her through the meat department.

Chino Police officers, Sgt. Rodney Lombard, and officers Nick Marotta and Nathan Messick, where awarded the city's medal of valor after they formed a three-man team to respond inside the store. Marotta fired two shots from his rifle at Garcia, who suffered a fatal wound to the head. The two women the incident survived.