San Bernardino Police fatally shot a knife-wielding robbery suspect as he fled and entered the car of a suspected accomplice in the parking lot of a Walmart Supercenter, police said in a statement on Saturday.
The suspected accomplice was later arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to a crime, according to the statement.
Officers were at the Walmart at 4210 E. Highland Ave. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at about 7:45 p.m., investigating a shoplifting call when they were informed about a separate armed robbery taking place inside the store.
The suspect in the robbery, who was later identified as Rialto resident Richard Williams, approached an employee from behind as the employee opened a locked case. Williams placed “a large knife” to the employee’s back and threatened to stab him if he did not step aside, according to police. Fearing for his safety, the employee backed away, and Williams stole several items from inside the case.
When a security guard attempted to intervene, Williams turned the knife on him as well, threatening to stab him, the statement said. The security guard backed away, and Williams fled the store on foot. Officers already on the scene made contact with Williams after he exited the store.
Williams dropped the stolen merchandise, at which point officers noticed he was holding a knife in his hands. Officers repeatedly asked him to drop the weapon, but he refused and began running away, the police statement said.
Williams ran through the parking lot of the Walmart toward a car that was occupied by a woman, later identified as Ontario resident Clauwaneshanea Jeter, the police said. Still armed with a knife, Williams opened the car door, and Jeter began to scream as he attempted to get inside. Officers fired their weapons, preventing Williams from entering the car and allowing Jeter time to escape unharmed, according to police.
Officers attempted lifesaving measures, and paramedics responded to the scene, but Williams was pronounced dead, the police said. Coroner records show Williams was 65.The San Bernardino Police homicide unit and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, are investigating the shooting.
Williams has several prior arrests, including robbery, burglary, resisting arrest, felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, assault with a deadly weapon and parole violation, police said.
During the investigation, Jeter initially told officers that she did not know Williams, did not know why he was trying to get in her car and that she was fearful that he might try to harm her. However, during the follow-up interview with detectives, Jeter admitted that she did know him and that the two had gone to the store together with the intent to steal merchandise, the police statement said.
Police urged anyone with information about the case to contact Detective T. Montez at (909) 384-5762 or montez_ti@sbcity.org, or Sgt. E. Campos at (909) 384-5613, or jcampos_er@sbcity.org.
