You might think that the event in Hollywood a few years ago, where two suspects

dressed in military gear tried to rob a Bank Of America and then shoot it out on live TV
was the most violent Gunfight ever recorded....But to Police Officers in the Inland
Empire, the most violent shootout occurred not in the in LA, nor in Compton or even
Tustin, but rather, in Norco, and before it was over, this violent crime would become the
most notorious criminal event in the IE.
In History, it is known quite simply as the Norco Bank Robbery Shootout.....The
following is a newspaper report from the old Daily Report.... "May 9, 1980. Shootout
between police in Norco, California and five heavily armed suspects armed with assault
rifles as well as various explosive and incendiary devices. After a shootout with police at
a bank in Norco, the suspects became involved in a prolonged chase in which the
suspects shot at police, disabled 33 police vehicles, and civilian cars with improvised
explosive devices thrown from the back of a truck. The suspects also disabled a police
helicopter. Later the suspects lay in wait for police as they chased them and ambushed
them resulting in the death of a police officer and injury to others. One of the suspects
was killed in the shootout, one during a standoff with Police, and three were later
captured. 8 officers were injured. Deaths: Suspects: 2; Police: 1" Now, here is a first hand
story of the robbery as it unfolded before the first officer on the scene......Sheriff Deputy
John Bolasky.
Twenty-two years ago, Sheriff Deputy John Bolasky was 24-year-old and a deputy at the
Riverside County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department in Norco.....On May 9, 1980, a silent
alarm went out from a convenience store in downtown Norco right on 2nd street....He
was the first officer to arrive on the scene of a robbery in Norco.....As he got out of his
car with just a pistol at his side and patrol baton, He was confronted by five men who
were heavily armed with automatic rifles and handguns, hundreds of rounds of hollow-
point bullets and homemade grenades. The bank robbers began shooting at him and
anything that moved firing more than 200 rounds at Bolasky’s police cruiser, which
sustained 47 bullet holes.....As Bolasky’s dove for cover behind his cruiser his body was
hit by flying pieces of metal shrapnel from his car.....He suffered injuries to his face,
upper left shoulder, both forearms and the left elbow.....The elbow wound proved to be
the worst of the injuries as a bullet severed an artery. Though badly wounded, Bolasky
stood his ground and shot and killed one of the suspects......Amazingly, It was the first
and last time he ever discharged his weapon in the line of duty, and the first time he had
been shot at in his entire career as a peace officer. Four suspects managed to
escape.....The next day, police shot and killed a one of the suspects as he tried to hold up
another store while he was fleeing the scene......Police captured the remaining three, with
the help of the public who called in over a thousand leads and who were later convicted
of 46 felony counts and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Norco bank robbery has been described as one of the most violent in history. It’s
used to train anti-terrorism agencies throughout the world.....During the shooting, the
robbers killed one police officer and wounded eight, including Bolasky. They also shot
up a police helicopter and damaged or destroyed 33 police cruisers.
Gunfight in Norco
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 4:23pm.
Hehe I was there hanging out on lytle creek canyon below the town of lytle creek...it was
a wonderful day and me and my friends were just killin time by a waterfall...we came up
to the car to leave right as the truck went by shooting like crazy at what we counted out to
be over 40 police vehicles, corona police, norco police, san bernadino police, chps,
unmarked cars and riverside and san bernadino county sheriffs too. we followed the last
of the cruisers up to the town of lytle creek just in time to see the police helicopter get
shot down. i was 14 but i will never forget that.

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Re: Gunfight in Norco

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 6:40am.
HA i promise you you wernt there.. for two reasons.. your 43 yrs old and your saying
hehe? thats hillarious grandma... and also.. the police hellicopter wasnt shot down.. yes it
was shot however it landed on its on.. It was force to land so it wouldnt blow up in the air
killin the two inside..

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Re: Norco shootout

Submitted by m. martin (not verified) on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 12:52am.
In 1980 I was 24 yrs old and a brand new female reserve with s.b.s.d in Fontana. It was
one of my first days out on patrol. Me and my partner (m.lenihan) picked up the pursuit
at Sierra Ave. at either baseline or highland ave. When we ended up 2 cars behind the
slain officer I sought cover behind the rear wheel on the drivers side. I remember
thinking, "what the hell I am doing here"? I know God was with us because not one bullet
hit our unit. I remember Deputy Evan's funeral (while at the church)grateful that I wasn't
wearing the uniform because I cried buckets of tears for this man and his family. In a year
past I went to his grave on the anniversary of that fateful day to pay my respects and see
with my own eyes where he was laid to rest. I received a commendation of Valor from
the s.b.s.d. Even though I still look at it from time to time and it makes me feel
(somewhat) proud, my thoughts are that it came at a price no law enforcement officer
should ever have to pay.

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Re: Norco shootout

Submitted by Jackie (not verified) on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 10:02am.
I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was 16 years old and my mother worked at
the bank. My brother was on his way to meet her. The phone rang and it was my mom
Moreen screaming and asking me if my brother was still home. I could hear the gunshots
going off in the background. I screamed "what is going on" she said, find your brother
and stop him from coming here, we are being robbed and then she hung up. We didn't
have cell phones back then. All I could do is sit by the phone and turn on the TV to see if
it was on the news. My moms boss saved her life, because one of the robbers ask where
my mother went. She stayed calm and said I don't know who you're talking about. My
mother had snuck to the back room to call about my brother.
The police officers went through hell that day along with all the people in the bank. My
heart goes out to everyone, because to this day my mother has night mares. An officer
lost their life and others were hurt. I thank all the officer that were there that day
"THANK YOU"

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Re: Norco shootout

Submitted by Laura Bakewell (not verified) on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:55pm.
We would like to interview your mother. Please call Laura Bakewell at 951-686-7575.
The Riverside Sheriffs' Association is hosting a luncheon on May 21, 2010. We are
looking for witnesses to interview. Thank you.

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Norco Bank Robbery shootout

Submitted by Laura Bakewell (not verified) on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:40pm.
The Riverside Sheriffs' Association will host a luncheon to honor the law enforcement
heroes of the Norco Bank Robbery, May 9, 1980. It's never too late to thank a hero. The
luncheon will be held May 21, 2010 at the Lake Norconian Club in Norco, CA. Please
call 951-686-7575 for reservations. EMail files@wordpr.com.

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Re: The Most Violent Gunfight in IE history and it occurred ...

Submitted by david f (not verified) on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 5:06pm.
I was at Carls Jr I saw the whole shout out it was like a movie. It's funny how they never
talk about the guy they kidnaped and throwen in the back of the van when they stole it
before they rob the back I saw that guy come out the back window what a hell of a drop
to the ground SMACK! What ever happened to him??????? They never talk about the
bomb they set that never went off in Corona
Hey theres a guy going in the bank to rob it!!!!
Oh shut up and finish your burger!
BUT THERE IS!!!!!!!!! Less then a minute BAM BAM POW POW..... It was classic
The other untold part of that story was there was a teller that worked there. I for got her
name but she had a big mouth every time you go in there she was running her mouth. I
think it's so funny when she started screeeming. They walked over and put a gun in her
mouth LOLOL. I could just see them guys and them thinking out loud GOD SHUT UP!!!
If I was them guys that would of been the frist order of bis.....

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Re: Norco bank robbery 1980

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/17/2010 - 1:58pm.
The guy that was taken hostage in the van was my 10th grade math teacher a few years
later. (1983-1984)
im not gonna say his name i will just refer to him as " the guy", he never made any
indication to students or fellow co workers of his incident. Anyway, come to find out last
year my neighbor is very close friends of "the guy", and my neighbor told me the story
about the bank robbery. Today i was sitting in the doctors office when i picked up a
magazine and headlines read part norco bank robbery 1980. Part one of two, so now im
going to purchase this months issue to read part 2."the guy" is still alive and doing well, i
see him know and then at my neighbors house.