Rialto Basketball Coach in Fair Condition After Shooting

by Lee Brown , January 24, 2013

SAN BERNARDINO – Three days after a highly successful high school basketball coach was shot by one of three reported assailants, police were still searching for clues and witnesses, along with a trio of suspects.

Coach Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson, 47, of Yucaipa, was shot on Monday night just before 8 o’clock. Eventually Johnson drove himself to the nearby police department, which is about five blocks from Seccombe Park, site of the shooting.
A spokesman at Loma Linda University Medical Center said Johnson, who is the longtime coach at Rialto’s Eisenhower High School, was listed in fair condition.

So far, the case is being investigated as attempted murder and robbery, said police. Lt. Paul Williams said in a release that the injuries, which include four gunshot wounds to Johnson’s upper torso, were not life-threatening. “There are no updates,” Williams said late Wednesday afternoon. Nor would he disclose the method in which San Bernardino were investigating the crime. “The course of the investigation is continuing.”

A quick stop at Seccombe Lake Park in San Bernardino turned violent

There are several questions pertaining to the case, especially the state of the crime scene, since Johnson transported himself to the police department. “We are not ready to discuss what (or) how we investigate serious crimes,” said Williams. They said Johnson reported pulling into a parking lot at Seccombe Park, which is located on the 500 block of North Sierra Way, to use the rest room. Police reported that Johnson said he was driving back from the Cal State University-San Bernardino area and was headed for a gas station.

Sgt. Gary Robertson reported Johnson said three men tried to rob him of his wallet. After shooting Johnson, the men fled without taking the wallet or any other property. Johnson, whose Eisenhower teams have won a number of various championships that includes the 2009 state title, told police that attackers were black, but did not specify height, weight or any other descriptions.