Man Arrested in Killing; 3 Officers Wounded

A San Bernardino County sheriff’s SWAT team ended a standoff late Saturday night involving a man who allegedly shot and killed his neighbor and wounded three police officers.

Police said John Salisbury, 68, of Barstow and his neighbor were involved in an argument about 2 p.m. in front of the victim’s house. Salisbury used a rifle to shoot the man and then barricaded himself in his neighbor’s home, authorities said.

Two Barstow police officers who arrived were fired on, with one being hit once in each upper leg and the other being grazed near his right eye, police said. They were identified as Officer John Cordero and Cpl. Albert Ramirez, who are in their mid-30s.

A third officer, Andrew Ellis, suffered minor injuries when his cruiser came under fire, said Sgt. Lee Gibson. He was struck in the face by shrapnel and was treated at Barstow Community Hospital and released.

Police said Salisbury went inside his neighbor’s house, where he held officers at bay. A sheriff’s SWAT team arrived at 5 p.m. and brought the standoff to an end about 11:30 p.m., authorities said.

Police said Salisbury served five years in a Northern California prison for an armed robbery and had been in prison for assaulting a police officer in Arizona.