Suspect wanted for connection with sale of illegal firearms, pursuit fatally shot by Fontana police

Fontana Police Department officers closed the eastbound lanes of the I-10 Freeway in Redlands for several hours Tuesday evening as they investigated an officer-involved shooting-turned-pursuit.

According to Fontana PD, the shooting occurred before the pursuit while officers were doing a "vehicle check" near Sierra Avenue and the 15 Freeway in Fontana. The vehicle check was revealed to be part of an undercover operation on Wednesday, as officers worked on a case regarding the sale of illegal assault weapons. 

Both officers approached the suspect's vehicle, reportedly wearing clearly marked police vests, when the suspect behind the wheel drove forward and rammed their unmarked police unit, prompting the officers to open fire.

The suspect then fled and led police on a pursuit that continued onto the 10 Freeway before coming to an end when police conducted a PIT maneuver near Tennessee Street in Redlands. Neither authorities nor the suspects opened fire at the end of the pursuit, as both occupants ran from the scene, before they were later apprehended. 

The passenger was said to have suffered a gunshot wound and taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. His identity was withheld pending notification of next of kin. 

The driver, identified as 27-year-old Fontana resident and convicted felon Adolfo Quintana, was treated for undisclosed injury before he was booked on several charges.

Officers discovered an unregistered assault rifle inside of the vehicle following the pursuit.