East SBV Times

On February 4th, 2017, at approximately 12:50 p.m., the Rialto Police Department’s Communications Center received several calls for service regarding a car-to-car shooting in the area of Willow Avenue and Etiwanda Avenue. The victim’s vehicle was struck multiple times as it fled southbound on Willow Avenue onto Foothill Boulevard attempting to avoid the suspect vehicle.

Officers ultimately responded to the area of Rialto Avenue and Cactus Avenue where they discovered a 15-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives conducted an extensive investigation and identified the suspect as 20-year-old Fernando Montes Palomera, a resident of the City of Rialto. For several weeks detectives worked around the clock to locate Palomera who was actively avoiding police following the incident.

On March 17th, 2017, Palomera was located while hiding in a residence in the City of Adelanto. When officers attempted to detain Palomera, he attempted to flee the residence on foot, armed with a handgun. With the assistance of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Palomera was pursued and taken into custody without incident.

On February 23rd, 2023, after years of continued collaboration between the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and the Rialto Police Department, this case came to its conclusion. Palomera was sentenced to 48 years and four months in state prison for homicide.

Original source can be found here