Deputy killed in line of duty prior to high-speed pursuit and crash on SoCal freeway

A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputy died Monday after he was shot while responding to a domestic violence incident in Rancho Cucamonga.

Deputy Andrew Nunez was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being shot in the head by a man who later led authorities on a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway, which ended in a fiery crash.

Nunez responded to the 12300 block of Hollyhock Drive in Rancho Cucamonga around 12:40 a.m. for a report of an armed man threatening a woman, authorities said.

Upon deputies’ arrival, the suspect allegedly opened fire immediately, hitting Nunez once. Responding deputies administered first aid until paramedics arrived to transport Nunez by helicopter to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Authorities said Nunez is a six-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. He was married and the father of a 2-year-old daughter and was expecting a second child with his wife.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus spoke about Nunez’s killing and described the heartbreak felt among department personnel and law enforcement in the area.

“We are buried in sadness,” Dicus siad said. “Unfortunately for this department, this happens all too often.”

Dicus said he believes this is the 81st shooting involving his deputies since he became sheriff in 2022.

“There is a tremendous amount of violence out there,” Dicus said. “We are proactively trying to prevent this violence.”

After Nunez was fatally wounded, the suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway.

Authorities followed the man on the motorcycle as he traveled westbound at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour. He eventually exited the highway and re-entered, heading east in the direction he had previously traveled.

At one point, he narrowly avoided a crash with a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer who joined the chase.

The pursuit ended near Claremont after a black sedan pulled into the path of the motorcycle, throwing the suspect off the bike into the air at approximately 70 mph. Sky5 was overhead at the time of the crash, showing the motorcyclist turning and looking at his pursuers before crashing into the vehicle.

The suspect rolled over the handlebars of his bike and crashed backwards onto the pavement, where he lay injured until first responders arrived at him. He was then put on an emergency medical helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition was described as stable.

At a press conference late Monday afternoon, Dicus said the driver of the vehicle that crashed the motorcycle was actually an off-duty lawmaker who “put himself on duty and engaged in legal intervention.”

The 210 Freeway remained closed for several hours and vehicles were unable to leave the road as investigators combed the scene. The road will remain completely closed as of 17.45.

Dicus said his department will work tirelessly to ensure Nunez’s suspected killer is held accountable for his crimes.

“We’re going to do the best we can, that’s the most important thing at this point and making sure we bring the suspect to justice and take good care of that family,” Dicus said.

A law enforcement procession for Deputy Nunez began around 6:00 pm as his body was transported from the hospital to a local funeral home.

The man accused of shooting and killing her has not yet been identified by authorities. San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said his office will likely file murder charges against a peace officer.

Anderson said investigators are still uncovering details about the case, which he called “significant.”

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