Innocent Bystander Dies in Chino Robbery Shootout

CHINO - An innocent bystander on Sunday was killed during a shootout involving police and two men who had attempted to rob a restaurant.
A Chino police officer and two suspects in the robbery were also hospitalized following the incident.

Police said Daniel Baledran, 21, of Rubidoux was shot to death by a police officer during the shootout near the Papa John's restaurant on 12615 Central Avenue.

Baledran was in the immediate area of the restaurant when the shots were fired and was considered an "innocent victim," said Michelle Van Der Linden, Chino public information officer.

Police officers initially thought Baledran was part of the robbery, but investigators later determined he was not.

A police officer - whose name was not released - and two suspected robbers were wounded about 10:15 p.m. near the restaurant.

The injured police officer is in stable condition.

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

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

Cisneros and Jaquez attempted to rob the Papa John's and, as they fled from the restaurant, opened fire on police officers, Van Der Linden said.

She did not know if any money was taken from the restaurant.

Officers returned fire and wounded Cisneros and Jaquez.

"There's a lot of information still under investigation," Van Der Linden said.

The investigation includes figuring out Baledran's location before he was shot, the types of weapons used by the robbers and how many shots were fired.

Witnesses said they heard hundreds of gunshots during the crossfire.

On Monday morning, more than 100 yellow evidence markers, identifying bullet casing droppings, were scattered across the nearby parking lot.

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

Lopez said they heard initial gunshots, a quick break and 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."'

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

Linda Fair, a veterinary clinic assistant who is employed 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 5 to 10 minutes.

Fearful, Fair said she stayed inside and saw and heard nothing else but gunfire.

On Monday morning, broken glass, bullet casings and blood on the sidewalk were a dramatic sight for onlookers along Central.

Police tape sectioned off three prominent business properties on the heavily traveled street south of Walnut Avenue.

About 8:30 a.m. Monday, the San Bernardino County sheriff's coroner removed the dead body near the south side of Papa John's.

Bullet holes and shattered glass exposed the interior of nearby Daniel's Home Center. 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 to Jefferson avenues.

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

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