BLOOMINGTON, CA – On Friday, October 13, 2023, at around 8:15 a.m., deputies from the Fontana Station responded to a call regarding a vehicle burglary in progress on the 18600 block of Valley Boulevard.
The report came from Alexander Marquez, who identified Dennis Smith as the perpetrator actively breaking into a vehicle. We don’t know the details of what led up to this but at some point Marquez shot Smith. Upon arrival, deputies found Marquez in a nearby business armed with a firearm and he was then detained.
Meanwhile, deputies discovered Smith suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower body and promptly provided medical assistance. Smith was then transported to a local hospital via ambulance, where he continues to receive medical care.
Following the incident, deputies executed a search warrant at the scene and gathered evidence pertinent to the ongoing investigation. Marquez was released pending further investigations.
I wish we had more details on this incident. Since the police released him without charges, I can only assume Marquez confronted the suspect who threatened him and he shot him in self-defense. Thankfully, he is still alive. But confronting a car thief is never a good idea. You have no idea if they are armed or if they have any accomplices.
