Colton Clash: 1 Man Killed, 3 Hurt

The manager of a Colton used car lot was killed and three employees were wounded Monday when a man, irate over a purchase he’d made earlier in the day, returned with a companion and a handgun to confront them, authorities said.

Police did not immediately release the employees’ names, but family members identified the manager as Patrick Mawikere, 20, of Upland. The gunman was at large late Monday.

“There obviously was some business dissatisfaction,” Lt. Bob Miller, a spokesman for the Colton Police Department, said of the shooting at California Auto Specialists in the 1500 block of West Valley Boulevard.

“The motive for the shooting was not robbery,” he said.

The altercation began about 2:40 p.m., he said, when “a suspect with an issue over a business transaction” entered the five-employee business and asked for the manager.

When the manager responded, Miller said, the man began firing, hitting the four.

The manager died at the scene, Miller said.

The other three employees were taken to nearby Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

One, identified by the general manager of the three-location car firm as Mario Lopez, was reported in critical condition; the remaining two were in serious condition.

As the gunman was firing, Miller said, one of the injured employees shattered a storefront window, ran through it, sought help from the driver of a passing car and drove a short distance to flag down a police officer.

The business doesn’t have security cameras, but Miller said police knew whom they were seeking and did not release the man’s name.

Investigators have interviewed the man’s wife, who was with him during the initial purchase, and she is providing “real good information,” he said.

The scene was highly emotional late Monday as dozens of family members and friends converged at the small cream-colored business dealership stocked with used minivans, SUVs and pickups.

They hugged one another and sat sobbing at the curb.

“He’s a good guy, I can tell you that,” said Patrick’s brother, Sandy Mawikere, 24.

“We all love Patrick. He [was] hardworking [and] never stingy about anything. He’s family to everybody.”

Ed Berki, owner of the business and two others in Colton and San Bernardino, said he was shocked.

“We sell cars,” he said. “This is not a pawnshop or a liquor [store]. It doesn’t happen in a car store.”

Times staff writer David Haldane contributed to this report.