Family Says Young Father Was Fatally Shot Near School In Pomona
POMONA (CBSLA.com) — A search is underway Thursday evening for a man who shot and killed another driver near a Pomona high school.
The incident Thursday unfolded about 3:45 p.m. near Garey Senior High School and spurred temporary lock downs at three schools in the area.
"I think we probably heard about two or three shots," Noe Elenes, a student at Garey High School, said. "Most of the people probably didn't hear it, but the ones that did hear it, they were just shocked."
According to the Pomona Unified School District, the incident was unrelated to the schools in the area. The lock downs were subsequently lifted.
Police said the driver passed away at the hospital. Family members on scene described him as a 21-year-old father.
"I'm just going crazy. I don't know what to think. I don't know anything. He has two kids. I have kids of my own. It's crazy," Diana Clausto, the victim's niece, said.
"It's just unbelievable. You know, we're left speechless," Melissa Clausto, another niece of the victim's, said.
Pomona officers believe there were many scenes. On Lexington and Park, officers said the victim got into a shootout with the driver of a stolen car.
They believe the suspect took off and abandoned the stolen car riddled with bullet holes a few blocks away.
Police believe the suspect went to Montclair Hospital after the shooting for treatment of an injury to his face. Authorities believe he went into the hospital seeking treatment, but did not stay for long after staff tipped off police.
Near the hospital, officers believe the suspect carjacked a vehicle by holding the driver at knife-point. Police are looking through hospital security video and interviewing witnesses. The suspect is outstanding.
The victim's family says he lost his brother to gang violence a couple of years ago. Police suspect that Thursday's incident was gang-related, but have not confirmed that it in fact was.
"He was coming from seeing his brother at the cemetery right here on Lexington. He had just went to go buy him flowers and he was coming home already. He was gonna go home already," Clausto said.
The family identified the victim as Joe Morales.
Anyone with information as to the suspect or his whereabouts was asked to contact the Pomona Police Department.