Homicide in San Bernardino

By: Sgt. Emil Kokesh

Community Writer

Photo Courtesy of:

Pixabay

Photo Description:

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds.

On 1/10/18, at approximately 12:58 p.m., the San Bernardino Police Department’s Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a shooting and a fire at the pawn shop located at 2601 E. Highland Ave. Officers arrived to find a shooting victim, two burn victims and a small fire inside the business. The shooting victim, later identified as Jason Cullen, was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds. The two burn victims were treated and are expected to recover.  Further investigation revealed that two suspects entered the business in an attempted robbery. They threw an incendiary device inside which resembled a Molotov cocktail. The device ignited and caught a nearby display case on fire. The suspects then immediately opened fire inside the business. Employees at the pawn shop returned fire causing both of the suspects to flee in a vehicle parked outside. The vehicle travelled south on Valaria Dr. and crashed into the fence along the side of the freeway. A SBPD K-9 unit responded, tracked the scent of the suspects, and found that they had fled on foot through a nearby apartment complex. Witnesses describe the suspects as two black males, medium build, both wearing black pants, black hoodies and white surgical masks at the time of the incident.  This deadly incident occurred in the middle of the day with many witnesses who were in the area. The San Bernardino Police Department’s Homicide Unit is asking that anyone with information about this case to please contact Detective Flesher at (909) 384-5655 or Sergeant Kokesh at (909) 384-5613.