Man sets his mom on fire inside home, barricades himself for 5 hours
Photo: 13000 Vine Street
A man was arrested in Rancho Cucamonga after he lit his mother on fire and refused to surrender to police.
Shortly after 6:00 AM on Monday, August 19, 2019, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department requested assistance from Rancho Cucamonga police in dealing with a man who had barricaded himself inside a house after lighting his mother on fire.
The man’s 73-year-old mother was able to escape from her home, located in the 13000 block of Vine Street, and got help from a neighbor. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and is currently in critical but stable condition.
Police arrived on the scene and, through a series of PA announcements over the course of 5 hours, attempted to convince the suspect to surrender peacefully. Finally, the Specialized Enforcement Division (SED) deployed a smoke canister into the house. “Several minutes later, Banuelos exited the home continuing to ignore deputies’ commands to peacefully surrender,” according to the written release.
The suspect finally gave in after police fired non-lethal rounds. Once taken into custody, he was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, then booked into jail. The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Gilbert Banuelos of Rancho Cucamonga, had additionally been on post release community supervision (PRCS) for obstructing/resisting an officer.
Neighbors surrounding the house had been evacuated from their homes during the standoff but allowed to return once it was safe to do so.
