Man Leaves Church, Is Killed at Covina ATM

Moments after he had listened to a church speaker marvel about miracles and the wonders of life, Corey Stanfield was shot to death and robbed Wednesday at a Covina ATM.

Driving alone, the 23-year-old construction worker stopped at a Wells Fargo automated teller machine on San Bernardino Road at 10:30 p.m. As Stanfield withdrew cash from the drive-up ATM, a man walked up, shot him and stole his money, Sheriff’s Deputy Carrie Stuart said.

A surveillance tape obtained by sheriff’s investigators presented a clear picture of the killer, but as of Thursday afternoon, there had been no arrests, deputies said.

Stanfield joined friends at the inspirational discussion Wednesday night at Faith Community Church in West Covina, said Jil Miller, 18, who had met Stanfield last month on a church trip to Lake Mead.

“It was late when we left, and he said he was hungry,” Miller said. “We told him to go home for food, but he didn’t want to. He said he was going to go to an ATM and then get some food.”

Stanfield was a devout Christian and avid churchgoer whose death shocked friends and family who gathered at his parents’ West Covina home Thursday to mourn.

“There’s this incredible hope because we know he’s with Jesus. There is a lot of smiling and reminiscing, but it is still hard to take,” said Pastor Doug Otten of Christ Church of the Valley. “He was just a young man who was full of life and wanted to help people out.”

Mourners were sad, Otten said, but not angry.

“The subject of the speech was about miracles and healing, about people who have been touched by the Lord,” Miller said. “I think it is better that he was talking to and was close to the Lord before something like this happened.”