In a display of daring and defiance, a 41-year-old man turned the tables on two would-be carjackers, disarming one before being shot in the hand. The incident occurred in the busy parking lot of an apartment complex on the 9000 block of Foothill Blvd in Rancho Cucamonga, according to a press release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department.
The victim, whose identity has been kept confidential, was confronted by Lorenzo Ortiz, 41, and Raymond Joshua Bowman, 26, both residents of El Monte. The suspects aimed a firearm at him during the brazen mid-afternoon carjacking attempt. However, the intended victim fought back, managing to take the gun away from his assailants, the Sheriff-Coroner Department reported. Despite his heroic efforts, he was shot in the hand during the struggle.
After fleeing the scene in their vehicle, Ortiz and Bowman were apprehended shortly thereafter by deputies responding to the security incident. Thanks to eyewitness reports, law enforcement was able to locate and detain the suspects rapidly, as documented in the release available on Nixle.
The duo was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on charges of carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon. Ortiz and Bowman now face serious charges that reflect their alleged reckless disregard for human life, and the community's swift response played a critical role in bringing these suspects to justice, the department said. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to recover from his injuries.
Authorities have issued a call to action for anyone with further information regarding the case, urging them to come forward and provide anonymous tips by contacting WE-TIP at (800) 78-CRIME or visiting www.wetip.com.
