Authorities are delving into a fatal clash involving law enforcement in the streets of Rancho Cucamonga. Following reports of a man holding a firearm, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputies encountered 31-year-old Davonte Sykes on the evening of August 3, 2024. According to a press release from the sheriff's department, the first exchange of gunfire took place near Walgreens Pharmacy after Sykes reportedly fired at a deputy.

The suspect then proceeded to Sprouts Farmer's Market on Carnelian Street, where a second altercation erupted. Sykes was struck by return fire during this confrontation, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. A sheriff's deputy received a non-life-threatening injury during the incident, was treated, and was subsequently released from the healthcare facility.

The Sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division has taken charge of the inquiry, unearthing possible links to an earlier shooting in Upland, which occurred roughly one hour before the events in Rancho Cucamonga. Detectives are working to corroborate these ties amidst their broader probe into the circumstances that culminated in Sykes' death.

The department has reached out to the public for help, asking anyone with information to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted through We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME. The investigation remains open, with Detective Joshua Young or Sergeant Gerardo Moreno at the Specialized Investigations Division as points of contact. The case reference number is DR# 112408625 / H# 2024-075, according to a sheriff's department statement.