On Monday afternoon around 12:37 p.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department rushed to a home in the 12300 block of Hollyhock Drive in Rancho Cucamonga after a call came in about a Hispanic male armed with a firearm threatening a female victim. When they arrived just minutes later, a gunshot rang out and 6-year veteran Deputy Andrew Nuñez was struck in the head.
Deputy Nuñez was quickly airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton where, despite desperate efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. His death sent shockwaves through the department and the community he served.
What happened next was nothing short of a dramatic manhunt. The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle, and a high-speed pursuit was launched along the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway. Speeds reached well over 150 mph as the chase carried through several cities.
Around 1:35 p.m., the chase came to a violent end near Campus Avenue in Upland when an off-duty deputy performed a “legal intervention,” striking the motorcycle and causing the suspect to crash. He was subsequently taken into custody, suffering injuries and later airlifted to a hospital in stable condition.
In a somber press conference, Sheriff Shannon Dicus described Nuñez as “a wonderful father and a wonderful deputy sheriff,” noting that he leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter and a wife who was expecting a second child. The department — along with the community — gathered outside the hospital and later held a motorcade procession as they honored their fallen colleague.
Investigators from the Homicide Detail of the sheriff’s department, in tandem with the California Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are working the case. No official charges had been announced as of the latest reports.
Deputy Nuñez had devoted himself to public service for six years, serving the Rancho Cucamonga area for five. He was known for his commitment to the community, his compassion, and his readiness to serve, even at great personal risk. His loss leaves a deep void.
In the face of unspeakable tragedy, his legacy stands clear: an everyday hero who went out carrying the weight of protecting others and paid the ultimate price. A call for protection became his last watch — one that his family, friends and fellow deputies will forever honor.