Police Await Surrender of Suspect in Fatal Shooting

BARSTOW — A man shot and killed his neighbor Saturday afternoon then wounded three police officers before barricading himself in the victim’s Barstow home, authorities said.

The situation remained unresolved Saturday evening.

Police said John Salesbury, 68, of Barstow, and his neighbor had an argument about 2 p.m. in front of the victim’s house on Third Street. Salesbury apparently was armed with a rifle, authorities said.

When Barstow officers arrived at the house, they immediately came under fire from a suspect armed with a semiautomatic rifle. Three officers were wounded and taken to Barstow Community Hospital.

One officer was treated and released. Two were transferred to Loma Linda Medical Center for further treatment. Police did not release their names or conditions.

Police said the gunman went inside his neighbor’s house, where he held police at bay. Sgt. Lee Gibson said Salesbury contacted San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies and told them he would shoot any officers who approached the house.

A sheriff’s SWAT team arrived at 5 p.m. Barstow police and sheriff’s deputies also were being assisted by California Highway Patrol officers.

Gibson said the gunman is a convicted felon, who had been arrested for assaulting a police officer in Arizona.