Arrest In Flare Gun Firing At Inland Empire Home, Other Attacks Suspected: Police

FONTANA, CA — A Fontana home was recently the target of a flare gun attack, and may be the location of another arson-related incident, according to recent reports.

Fontana police have arrested Bernard Gonzalez-Soberanis, 29, was arrested Monday in Rancho Cucamonga, in the 9500 block of Etiwanda Avenue, on suspicion of firing a flare gun at a home on Friday

He is awaiting pending felony charges of firing a weapon with malicious intent, owning a firearm illegally, and arson, according to the police arrest log. He was also arrested in October on suspicion of making criminal threats, records show. He was taken into custody in that incident in Fontana in the 14900 block of Foothill Boulevard. Reports say that he was tied to an Oct. 18 report of someone throwing a Molotov cocktail after midnight.

Officials say they are still investigating the tie to the October home-made fire bombs, according to ABC7 reports.

The event was captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera, where the video shows a picture of a man on a bicycle firing a flare gun at the home of Celeste Gonzalez.

She has spoken with reporters, saying that when the flare attack happened, "it was very loud, there was a flash of red. If they had shot at a closer range, they would have shot basically where I was sitting," she said. According to the video, Gonzalez said the person spoke Spanish, saying "'Respect the family' and some curse words."

It is unknown if the person arrested was known to her, as the case remains under investigation. The Fontana Police Department is still investigating but has not released any additional information on the arrest or the motive for the attacks.

Patch has reached out the Fontana Police and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for further details, and will add to this report when a response is received.