San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies shot a man after they found a body inside the trunk of a car in a quiet Chino Hills neighborhood.
The incident unfolded late Wednesday night on Wandering Ridge Drive in Chino Hills, according to the sheriff’s department, involving a Nissan Altima with Oregon plates.
Surveillance camera footage from a home in the area captured what led up to the shots being fired, showing a passenger getting out of the car first, then the driver exiting the vehicle, walking to the trunk and opening it before deputies opened fire.
The moment caught on video sparked the sudden response.
AIR7 was over the scene where there was a covered body on the ground next to the car, as well as several evidence markers.
The condition of the driver who was shot was unclear.
Officers at the scene worked to secure the area immediately.
No deputies were hurt in the shooting.
Authority response was swift across multiple agencies.
Authorities have not released any information about the victim in the trunk of the car.
Details about how the person in the trunk died remained undisclosed by investigators.
The sheriff’s department said in an Instagram post that there is no threat to the public and that there are no outstanding suspects.
“Residents can expect a continued law enforcement presence in the area as the investigation remains ongoing,” the department added in that statement.
The discovery was alarming enough to prompt the deputies’ immediate response.
Investigators moved quickly to control the scene.
Video from a nearby home security camera captured the moments before the gunfire, showing a passenger getting out first, then the driver exiting the car and opening the trunk, with deputies firing as the trunk was opened.
The security footage proved crucial to understanding the sequence of events.
The driver’s condition has not been confirmed, and authorities also have not released the identity of the body found in the trunk or how that person died.
Multiple questions about the incident remained unanswered as the investigation continued.
The sheriff’s office said patrols will remain increased in the area while the investigation continues.
In the viral moment captured by home surveillance video, deputies were patrolling the quiet residential street when they encountered a Nissan Altima with passengers getting out of the vehicle. The driver walked to the rear of the car and popped open the trunk, revealing what was inside—a discovery so disturbing that deputies immediately opened fire, according to the footage. The shooting left the driver with unclear injury status while the person found in the trunk was already deceased. No deputies sustained injuries during the encounter.
The investigation is active and ongoing with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department leading the probe into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the body found in the vehicle.