Man sought in shooting of 11 at a bar

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies searched Saturday for a man who opened fire with a shotgun in a Mira Loma bar, striking 11 people and seriously wounding some of them, authorities said.

The incident began after the gunman and four friends were kicked out of Las Copas bar in the 5100 block of Etiwanda Avenue for causing a disturbance early Friday morning, deputies said.

On his way out, the gunman threatened a security guard, deputies said.

Witnesses told deputies that the man returned half an hour later and began shooting at patrons and security guards.

One armed security officer fired back, authorities said.

Some victims were seriously hurt in the shooting, which occurred about 1:15 a.m., but none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, authorities said.

The victim’s identities and conditions were not released.

“It’s definitely an unfortunate event,” said Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela. “That is the reason we’re determined to locate the suspect and bring him to justice.”

The gunman fled before deputies arrived.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the investigations bureau at the sheriff’s Jurupa station at (951) 955-2600.