SAN BERNARDINO – A 31-year-old police officer, fighting for his life, was listed in grave condition after a shooting early Friday morning.
Gabriel Garcia, who was shot by a member of a criminal street gang based on nearby Redlands on Friday night. The gunman, Alex David Alvarado, 38, of San Bernardino was shot and killed while five suspects have been detained. Police arrested Johnathon Contreras, 20, as an accessory in the shooting. Orlando Cruz, 24, was also arrested for outstanding traffic warrants, said police. Three others, including two women and a man, have not yet been identified by police.
Reports are that Garcia was shot with an assault rifle during a gun battle that broke out. Garcia, along with a police trainee, came across six individuals walking near 19th St. and Garner Ave., two blocks east of Mt. Vernon Ave., according to reports. When the two officers got out of their patrol car, one individual opened fire.
The trainee, who was just out of the academy for two months, shot and killed Alvarado, who died at the scene. An AK-47 rifle and a revolver were discovered next to his body, both recovered by police. A sawed-off rifle was believed to have been used to shoot Garcia, said police. Three guns were reportedly involved.
Alvarado, who was not on probation or parole, had a significant arrest record, according to police. Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said the suspects had met earlier at a local club, had drinks, then went to the spot where the shooting eventually took place. The area is surrounded by a railroad yard and the 215 freeway.
Bullets could be heard by residents from the automatic rifle, according to reports. Witnesses told police that the shooter, Alvarado, just kept firing, refusing to get down. The trainee that returned fire was not identified by police. According to the coroner, Alvarado died at 3:47 a.m.
Garcia, who was shot once in the head according to Lt. Rich Lawhead, was eventually taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where he underwent surgery. He started with San Bernardino police in 2008, according to Lawhead. Garcia’s father, Ron Garcia, is a captain for San Bernardino PD.
Read More:
Press Enterprise: Suspected police shooter was fugitive
LATIMES: San Bernardino Police Officer critically injured
KTLA: Officer in grave condition after being shot in head
