Norco Shootout
Bank Robbery Shootout
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Norco, California
TIME PERIOD
May 9, 1980
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
The Norco shootout occurred on May 9, 1980, at approximately 3:40 p.m. at the Security Pacific Bank located at 2895 Hamner Avenue, Norco, California. Five heavily armed bank robbers, equipped with shotguns, rifles, handguns, and an improvised explosive device, executed a robbery, stealing $20,000. Upon police arrival, a shootout ensued, resulting in the death of one robber and injuries to multiple law enforcement officers and a civilian. Following a 25-mile car chase, the robbers ambushed pursuing deputies in San Bernardino County, leading to another shootout. Three of the surviving perpetrators were arrested two days later and subsequently convicted of 46 felonies, receiving life sentences without parole, while the fourth committed suicide before capture.
Theories suggest that the perpetrators had a well-planned strategy for the robbery and anticipated a heavy police response, as evidenced by their heavy armament and use of an ambush tactic during the chase. Some speculate that the involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies contributed to the chaos and confusion during the shootout, leading to a higher number of injuries among officers. Additionally, there are beliefs that the use of an improvised explosive device indicated a level of premeditation and sophistication not typical of bank robberies at the time.
The Norco Shootout: A Day of Chaos and Courage
The Prelude to Mayhem
It was a seemingly ordinary afternoon in Norco, California, on May 9, 1980, when a quiet suburb would become the stage for one of the most violent armed confrontations in U.S. history. At approximately 3:40 p.m., five men armed to the teeth with an arsenal that included shotguns, a G3 rifle, HK93s, handguns, AR-15s, a katana, and even an improvised explosive device, stormed into the Security Pacific Bank on Hamner Avenue. Their target was clear, their intent was sinister, and they were prepared to unleash chaos to achieve their aim.
The Heist Unfolds
As the robbers forced the bank tellers to hand over $20,000 (equivalent to $76,000 today), an employee at a neighboring bank witnessed the suspicious activity and promptly alerted the authorities. Riverside County Sheriff Deputy Glyn Bolasky found himself at the forefront of the unfolding drama. Positioned at a red light across from the bank, he was the first to respond, just as the robbers made their hasty exit, guns blazing.
"Let's go! Let's go!" shouted one of the robbers into a radio, signaling their partners to flee. In a hail of gunfire, Bolasky's cruiser became the initial target, its windshield shattered as he hastily reversed, colliding with another vehicle. Undeterred, Bolasky returned fire with his 12-gauge shotgun, even as the robbers piled into their getaway van. However, as they sped away, a pellet from Bolasky's shotgun found its mark, striking the driver, Belisario Delgado, behind the ear. The van careened into a telephone pole guy-wire, forcing the robbers to abandon it.
The Pursuit Begins
The four surviving robbers, now on foot, continued their assault, firing over 200 rounds at Bolasky's cruiser, leaving it riddled with 47 bullet holes. Bolasky himself was struck five times, sustaining injuries to his face, upper left shoulder, both forearms, and left elbow. Deputies Charles Hille and Andy Delgado soon arrived, with Delgado engaging the robbers in a fierce gunfight while Hille whisked Bolasky away to safety.
The robbers, displaying a chilling determination, commandeered a truck at an intersection, setting off a high-speed chase that would stretch 25 miles into neighboring San Bernardino County. Along the way, they hurled homemade bombs at the pursuing officers and fired indiscriminately, damaging 33 police vehicles, including a helicopter piloted by Lt. Jon Gibson and Observer Sgt. Ron Hittle.
Deadly Ambush
The chase reached a rural road where the robbers laid an ambush. Deputy James Evans was the first to encounter their trap, met with a torrent of bullets as he arrived. Despite returning fire, Evans was fatally shot in the head. The subsequent officers, armed only with .38-Special revolvers and 12-gauge shotguns, found themselves outgunned until San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy D.J. McCarty arrived with an M16, aboard a car driven by Deputy James McPheron.
McCarty's rifle fire forced the robbers to retreat into the wooded expanse of Lytle Creek. "There would have been a lot more dead cops on the road if not for that weapon," noted Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Rolf Parkes, highlighting the robbers' grim resolve to battle to the bitter end.
The Aftermath and Arrests
The following day, under the command of San Bernardino Assistant Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, law enforcement officers arrested three of the surviving gunmen without incident. The fourth, Manuel Delgado, met a violent end, succumbing to bullet wounds in a confrontation with a 65-man Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department SWAT team.
During the shootout, suspect Chris Harven was shot in the back by Deputy Evans, while George Smith sustained injuries to his left leg and groin from Deputy Bolasky. Among the collateral casualties was 12-year-old Robert Oglesby, who suffered a minor injury to his finger during a bicycle ride with friends. In total, eight officers were wounded, including Deputy Bolasky, who miraculously recovered from his injuries and was later decorated for his bravery.
Justice and Legacy
The three surviving suspects—George Wayne Smith and brothers Christopher and Russell Harven—were brought to justice, each convicted of 46 felonies and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Deputy Bolasky, a hero of the day's events, went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The Norco shootout left an indelible mark on law enforcement. Recognizing the inadequacy of their weapons during the confrontation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department upgraded their arsenal to include Ruger Mini-14s, M16s, and AR-15s. Police departments nationwide followed suit, enhancing their firepower and training, using the Norco incident as a case study for officer survival training.
Norco honored Deputy James Evans, who paid the ultimate price, by naming a street "Deputy Evans Drive." The shootout's story has since been immortalized in various media, including the film "Rapid Fire" (2006), the book "Norco '80: The True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery In American History" by Peter Houlahan, and several podcasts, ensuring the legacy of that fateful day endures.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page.
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Bank Robbery Begins
Five armed robbers storm the Security Pacific Bank, taking $20,000.
Shootout with Police
Deputies confront robbers outside the bank, leading to a violent shootout.
Pursuit and Ambush
Robbers flee in a stolen vehicle, ambush pursuing deputies in San Bernardino County.
Arrests Made
Three surviving robbers are arrested; one commits suicide during a standoff.
Trial Begins
Trial for the surviving robbers begins, leading to multiple felony convictions.
Sentencing
Three robbers are sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Deputy Killed
Deputy James Evans is killed during the shootout, becoming a casualty of the incident.
Legacy of the Shootout
The incident leads to changes in police armament and training across the U.S.
The Norco shootout occurred on May 9, 1980, at approximately 3:40 p.m. at the Security Pacific Bank located at 2895 Hamner Avenue, Norco, California. Five heavily armed bank robbers, equipped with shotguns, rifles, handguns, and an improvised explosive device, executed a robbery, stealing $20,000. Upon police arrival, a shootout ensued, resulting in the death of one robber and injuries to multiple law enforcement officers and a civilian. Following a 25-mile car chase, the robbers ambushed pursuing deputies in San Bernardino County, leading to another shootout. Three of the surviving perpetrators were arrested two days later and subsequently convicted of 46 felonies, receiving life sentences without parole, while the fourth committed suicide before capture.
Theories suggest that the perpetrators had a well-planned strategy for the robbery and anticipated a heavy police response, as evidenced by their heavy armament and use of an ambush tactic during the chase. Some speculate that the involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies contributed to the chaos and confusion during the shootout, leading to a higher number of injuries among officers. Additionally, there are beliefs that the use of an improvised explosive device indicated a level of premeditation and sophistication not typical of bank robberies at the time.
The Norco Shootout: A Day of Chaos and Courage
The Prelude to Mayhem
It was a seemingly ordinary afternoon in Norco, California, on May 9, 1980, when a quiet suburb would become the stage for one of the most violent armed confrontations in U.S. history. At approximately 3:40 p.m., five men armed to the teeth with an arsenal that included shotguns, a G3 rifle, HK93s, handguns, AR-15s, a katana, and even an improvised explosive device, stormed into the Security Pacific Bank on Hamner Avenue. Their target was clear, their intent was sinister, and they were prepared to unleash chaos to achieve their aim.
The Heist Unfolds
As the robbers forced the bank tellers to hand over $20,000 (equivalent to $76,000 today), an employee at a neighboring bank witnessed the suspicious activity and promptly alerted the authorities. Riverside County Sheriff Deputy Glyn Bolasky found himself at the forefront of the unfolding drama. Positioned at a red light across from the bank, he was the first to respond, just as the robbers made their hasty exit, guns blazing.
"Let's go! Let's go!" shouted one of the robbers into a radio, signaling their partners to flee. In a hail of gunfire, Bolasky's cruiser became the initial target, its windshield shattered as he hastily reversed, colliding with another vehicle. Undeterred, Bolasky returned fire with his 12-gauge shotgun, even as the robbers piled into their getaway van. However, as they sped away, a pellet from Bolasky's shotgun found its mark, striking the driver, Belisario Delgado, behind the ear. The van careened into a telephone pole guy-wire, forcing the robbers to abandon it.
The Pursuit Begins
The four surviving robbers, now on foot, continued their assault, firing over 200 rounds at Bolasky's cruiser, leaving it riddled with 47 bullet holes. Bolasky himself was struck five times, sustaining injuries to his face, upper left shoulder, both forearms, and left elbow. Deputies Charles Hille and Andy Delgado soon arrived, with Delgado engaging the robbers in a fierce gunfight while Hille whisked Bolasky away to safety.
The robbers, displaying a chilling determination, commandeered a truck at an intersection, setting off a high-speed chase that would stretch 25 miles into neighboring San Bernardino County. Along the way, they hurled homemade bombs at the pursuing officers and fired indiscriminately, damaging 33 police vehicles, including a helicopter piloted by Lt. Jon Gibson and Observer Sgt. Ron Hittle.
Deadly Ambush
The chase reached a rural road where the robbers laid an ambush. Deputy James Evans was the first to encounter their trap, met with a torrent of bullets as he arrived. Despite returning fire, Evans was fatally shot in the head. The subsequent officers, armed only with .38-Special revolvers and 12-gauge shotguns, found themselves outgunned until San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy D.J. McCarty arrived with an M16, aboard a car driven by Deputy James McPheron.
McCarty's rifle fire forced the robbers to retreat into the wooded expanse of Lytle Creek. "There would have been a lot more dead cops on the road if not for that weapon," noted Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Rolf Parkes, highlighting the robbers' grim resolve to battle to the bitter end.
The Aftermath and Arrests
The following day, under the command of San Bernardino Assistant Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, law enforcement officers arrested three of the surviving gunmen without incident. The fourth, Manuel Delgado, met a violent end, succumbing to bullet wounds in a confrontation with a 65-man Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department SWAT team.
During the shootout, suspect Chris Harven was shot in the back by Deputy Evans, while George Smith sustained injuries to his left leg and groin from Deputy Bolasky. Among the collateral casualties was 12-year-old Robert Oglesby, who suffered a minor injury to his finger during a bicycle ride with friends. In total, eight officers were wounded, including Deputy Bolasky, who miraculously recovered from his injuries and was later decorated for his bravery.
Justice and Legacy
The three surviving suspects—George Wayne Smith and brothers Christopher and Russell Harven—were brought to justice, each convicted of 46 felonies and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Deputy Bolasky, a hero of the day's events, went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The Norco shootout left an indelible mark on law enforcement. Recognizing the inadequacy of their weapons during the confrontation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department upgraded their arsenal to include Ruger Mini-14s, M16s, and AR-15s. Police departments nationwide followed suit, enhancing their firepower and training, using the Norco incident as a case study for officer survival training.
Norco honored Deputy James Evans, who paid the ultimate price, by naming a street "Deputy Evans Drive." The shootout's story has since been immortalized in various media, including the film "Rapid Fire" (2006), the book "Norco '80: The True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery In American History" by Peter Houlahan, and several podcasts, ensuring the legacy of that fateful day endures.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Bank Robbery Begins
Five armed robbers storm the Security Pacific Bank, taking $20,000.
Shootout with Police
Deputies confront robbers outside the bank, leading to a violent shootout.
Pursuit and Ambush
Robbers flee in a stolen vehicle, ambush pursuing deputies in San Bernardino County.
Arrests Made
Three surviving robbers are arrested; one commits suicide during a standoff.
Trial Begins
Trial for the surviving robbers begins, leading to multiple felony convictions.
Sentencing
Three robbers are sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Deputy Killed
Deputy James Evans is killed during the shootout, becoming a casualty of the incident.
Legacy of the Shootout
The incident leads to changes in police armament and training across the U.S.