Authorities have not determined whether activity on Monteverde Drive was connected to two deaths discovered near Wandering Ridge Drive.
CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Investigators were examining activity at two locations in Chino Hills on Thursday after sheriff’s deputies opened fire near a car where two people were found dead, including one person whose body was inside the trunk.
The central investigation remained in the 2400 block of Wandering Ridge Drive, where San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies responded at about 10:25 p.m. Wednesday. Authorities said the call ultimately led to a deputy-involved shooting, but they had not explained the original reason for the response.
A second area on Monteverde Drive, roughly a mile away, also drew investigators’ attention. Authorities had not confirmed that it was a separate crime scene or said whether evidence from that location was linked to the car, the two deaths or the confrontation involving deputies.
The limited information left several major questions unanswered Thursday, including where the vehicle had been before deputies encountered it, how the person in the trunk died and what prompted deputies to fire. The identities of both people were being withheld pending confirmation and notification of their families.
Neighborhood surveillance video described by KABC-TV showed deputies stopping a Nissan Altima with Oregon license plates. A passenger stepped out, and the driver later walked to the rear of the car and opened the trunk before deputies fired, according to the station’s account.
The recording alone did not explain the deputies’ decision to use deadly force. Authorities had not said whether a weapon was recovered, whether either person threatened deputies or whether investigators believed the driver knew a body was inside the trunk.
One person was found on the ground near the car after the shooting. The other remained inside the trunk as investigators documented the scene. Officials had not released information about the second person’s injuries or said whether that death occurred before deputies arrived.
Detectives placed evidence markers around the sedan and searched the surrounding area while patrol vehicles restricted access to the residential street. The prolonged closure extended into daylight as investigators photographed the scene and collected potential evidence.
No deputies were injured. The Sheriff’s Department also said there were no outstanding suspects and no continuing danger to nearby residents, although it warned that law enforcement personnel would remain in the area as the investigation continued.
The relationship, if any, between the two people was not known. Authorities had not disclosed whether the car was registered to either person, whether it had been reported stolen or whether anyone else was believed to have occupied it before the stop.
Investigators were expected to review neighborhood surveillance recordings, deputies’ body-worn camera footage, radio traffic and physical evidence from the vehicle. Officials had not announced when additional details or video would be released.
Both deaths remained under investigation Thursday, along with the deputies’ use of force and any possible connection between Wandering Ridge Drive and Monteverde Drive. Authorities said the public was not believed to face an ongoing threat.
Author note: Last updated July 30, 2026.