Suspect detonates small bombs at Ontario Sam’s Club, prompting evacuation

A man detonated two explosive devices at a Sam’s Club in Ontario Thursday afternoon, igniting small fires and triggering an evacuation, authorities said.

When officers arrived at the store after reports of a fire, they saw a destructive device inside and a possible suspect fleeing in a vehicle, said Cpl. Eric Quinones with the Ontario Police Department. Employees used fire extinguishers to put out the flames.

A witness pointed out the suspect — later identified as Fontana resident Hugo Gonzalez, 49 — to authorities.

Officers tried to stop the man, but he refused to pull over. After a short pursuit, officers detained the man and questioned him.

Inside the man’s car, investigators found materials similar to the bomb-making materials used in the store explosion, Quinones said. He did not have details on what led up to the explosion but said the man acted alone.

Investigators are looking at an apartment linked to him on the16500 block of Arrow Boulevard in Fontana.

No employees or customers were injured.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

10:20 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from Ontario police.

This article was originally published at 6:50 p.m.