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Road-rage shootout leaves 2 motorists dead as gunfire erupts in front of children

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department headquarters
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said two local men are dead after a weekend confrontation.
(Rick Sforza / Associated Press)
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Two men are dead in San Bernardino County after an incident that began with a hit-and-run ended in a fatal shooting — with two young children as witnesses — authorities said.

Jonathan McConnell was splitting lanes on his motorcycle on the 210 Freeway on Saturday when he hit a sedan carrying Aaron Harris and his two children, ages 2 and 5, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

McConnell, 38, got off the freeway — followed by Harris — according to the department.

The motorcyclist drove to Joy’s Lounge, a bar in the city of Highland. He stopped in the parking lot, where there were some people he knew, deputies said.

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Attorneys for Rosa Ramirez say she was talking to a deputy outside her home last year when an off-leash patrol dog clamped down on her hand, permanently injuring her.

Harris, with children in tow, pulled into the lot, where the 37-year-old stopped his car and, according to authorities, began shouting threats at McConnell.

When McConnell approached his car, the department said, Harris fired a gun. McConnell returned fire. They were found by deputies with gunshot wounds and brought to the hospital, where both men died.

The children were not physically harmed, but a man at the scene was shot in the hand, deputies said.

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