Six men were arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of assault rifles when law enforcement officers heard gunfire and then found an illegal shooting range operating off of Glen Helen Parkway, near the 15 Freeway and the Cajon Pass north of San Bernardino, authorities said Tuesday, March 22.
The discovery happened Sunday, March 20, when a California Highway Officer was citing an illegally parked car in the 17700 block of Glen Helen Parkway around 10:39 a.m. and heard what was described as “loud automatic gunfire” nearby, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The CHP officer requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Department and left the scene for his safety, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Responding deputies also heard the nearby gunfire and discovered that it was coming from an open field on the west side of Glen Helen Parkway, authorities said. Additional units from the Sheriff’s Department, Fontana Police Department and the U.S. Forest Service were also requested.
As a part of a tactical plan, the Sheriff’s Department made announcements to all in attendance to stop firing their weapons, secure them and then leave the area, authorities said. Multiple vehicles left the area and were stopped and searched by law enforcement, the Sheriff’s Department said.
After searching 35 cars containing 53 people, including small children, multiple firearms and ammunition was located, the Sheriff’s Department said. Seven illegal assault rifles were found, authorities said.
Six men were arrested on suspicion of possession of assault rifles and 44-year-old Candelario Lopez from La Habra was also arrested on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, authorities said. The other suspects are from Santa Ana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Bloomington.
“The public is discouraged from using large private property areas as gun ranges,” the Sheriff’s Department said in its news release.
It wasn’t immediately clear if any automatic weapons were recovered.
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