Claremont Police Department officers were put to the test last night after two unrelated incidents—a stabbing and a car-to-car shoot out—kept officers on high alert.

The car-to-car shooting took place in the area of Doane Avenue and Bucknell Avenue at around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4. Claremont officers responded to multiple reports of occupants in two separate vehicles who were shooting at each other.

A resident who lives in the Cinderella Homes neighborhood north of Vista Drive stated that he heard a succession of 20 or so shots with a brief pause, followed by an additional 20 more.

“People were calling in to report it left and right,” Lt. Aaron Fate said. “When you get a few calls, it’s one thing. But when we get this high volume of calls, we know it’s bad.”

Upon officers’ arrival, the two vehicles were gone. Officers found multiple bullet casings and fragments in the intersection of Doane and Bucknell. At least two of the rounds struck an exterior wall of an apartment and a brick wall of the apartment complex. No gunshot victims were located.

The two vehicles involved were described as a white two-door sedan and a black sedan. The black sedan was occupied by at least three males. At this time, there is no further information about the vehicles or suspects.

Shots were also fired between the two vehicles in the city of Pomona in the area of East La Verne Avenue and Los Flores Street, which is located one block west of Mountain Avenue along the 10 freeway. The Pomona Police Department is investigating the shooting at that location. Since the shootings were committed by the same people, Claremont and Pomona investigators will work together to locate the suspects.

In an unrelated incident, the LA County Fire Department called the Claremont Police Department at around 8:55 p.m. regarding a 55-year-old male stabbing victim who was in the parking lot of Norm’s Restaurant on South Indian Hill Boulevard.

“The occupants in the vehicle were arguing with each other on the freeway when one stabbed the other,” Lt. Fate said. “They pulled off the freeway and into the Norm’s parking lot.”

The stabbing occurred in Pomona, so Pomona PD handled the arrest of the suspect and will monitor the continuing investigation.

The victim was airlifted from a Pomona elementary school to USC Medical Center. No report on his condition is available.

If you have any information regarding these crimes, contact the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.

—Kathryn Dunn

editor@claremont-courier.com