Norco shootout
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| Norco shootout | |
|---|---|
| Location | Norco, California, USA |
| Date | May 9, 1980 3:00 p.m. (UTC-7) |
| Attack type | Bank robbery |
| Deaths | 2 perpetrators, 1 Sheriff's deputy |
| Injured | 8 Sheriff's deputies wounded |
| Perpetrator(s) | Belisaro Delgado † Manuel Delgado † Christopher Gregory Harven Russell Harven George Wayne Smith[1] |
The Norco shootout was an armed confrontation between five heavily-armed bank robbers and Riverside and San Bernadino County Sheriff's deputies after the perpetrators robbed the Security Pacific Bank in Norco, California, USA on May 9, 1980. The bank robbers were armed with shotguns, an assault rifle, handguns, and improvised explosive devices. Two of the perpetrators and a Sheriff's deputy were killed in the shootout. Eight other Sheriff's deputies were wounded.
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[edit] The robbery and pursuit
At 3:00 in the afternoon on May 9, 1980, four robbers stormed into the bank and forced the tellers to hand over $20,000.00 in cash, while the fifth robber kept watch outside. Unknown to the robbers, an employee at a different bank across the street had spotted them entering the bank and called the police.
Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Glyn Bolasky was the first officer to arrive at the scene. As he pulled up, the look-out posted outside the bank opened fire on his police cruiser, blowing out his windshield and forcing Bolasky to throw the vehicle in reverse. Bolasky's cruiser eventually crashed into another car in the street. Taking cover behind his vehicle, Bolasky returned fire at the gunman. Upon hearing the shootout in the street, the robbers inside the bank ran outside and into their waiting getaway van. Once all five men were inside, they attempted to flee the scene, while continuing to shoot at Bolasky. As the van sped away, a pellet from Bolasky's shotgun struck the driver, Belisaro Delgado, in the back of the head, killing him and sending the van crashing into a tree. The four remaining robbers then exited the vehicle and fired over 200 rounds at Bolasky, putting 47 bullet holes in his cruiser. Bolasky was hit five times; in the face, upper left shoulder, both forearms and the left elbow.[2]
By this time, Deputies Charles Hille and Andy Delgado (no relation to the robbers) had arrived at the scene. While Delgado engaged the robbers with gunfire, Hille managed to evacuate Bolasky in his cruiser and transport him to a nearby hospital. The robbers continued to fire at other officers arriving at the scene, and eventually attempted to escape again by commandeering a truck in the bank's parking lot. As the four led a police pursuit, they shot at the pursuing officers and threw homemade bombs out the back of the truck. Overall, they damaged 33 police vehicles, including a police helicopter, forcing it to land.
The suspects eventually pulled far ahead of the pursuing police officers and stopped to ambush them as they caught up. Officer James Evans, one of the first police units to come under attack during the ambush, was shot in the head and killed. The police, armed with only .38 caliber revolvers and shotguns, were out-gunned. They were, however, soon joined by San Bernadino Sheriff's Deputy D. J. McCarty, who brought an AR-15 to the shootout. His presence was crucial. Shortly after he engaged the robbers with his rifle, they stopped shooting and fled the scene, running into the wooded area of Lytle Creek, San Bernardino. "There would have been a lot more dead cops on the road if not for that weapon" said Riverside Deputy Ron Parks, a participant in the police response that day, "after their capture, the suspects stated their intent was to fight to the death".[3]
[edit] Aftermath
Two days later, three of the gunmen were arrested. The fourth, Manuel Delgado (Belisaro's brother), was killed in a shootout with a SWAT team in the foothills. In all, eight officers had been wounded and one killed. The three arrested suspects, George Wayne Smith and brothers Christopher and Russell Harven, were convicted of 46 felonies and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Officer Bolasky recovered from his injuries sustained in the shootout and was awarded several decorations for his actions. He later became an officer in the U. S. Air Force.[2]
[edit] Film
A film, Rapid Fire was made about the shootout.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- A documentation of the shootout
- Riverside sheriffs association account
- Related news article about event
[edit] References
- ^ The Norco Bank Robbery: The Gunmen. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
- ^ a b Burrows, Danielle. Surviving terrorism: shot five times by bank robbers, an Air Force officer tells his story, offering candid advice how to avoid being a victim of terrorists. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
- ^ A first person account of the day that changed law-enforcement in Riverside County forever. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
