Road-rage shootout leaves 2 motorists dead as gunfire erupts in front of children

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department headquarters

Two men are dead in San Bernardino County after an incident that began with a hit-and-run ended in a fatal shooting — with two young children as witnesses — authorities said.

Jonathan McConnell was splitting lanes on his motorcycle on the 210 Freeway on Saturday when he hit a sedan carrying Aaron Harris and his two children, ages 2 and 5, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

McConnell, 38, got off the freeway — followed by Harris — according to the department.

The motorcyclist drove to Joy’s Lounge, a bar in the city of Highland. He stopped in the parking lot, where there were some people he knew, deputies said.

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Rosa Ramirez, right, , 45, suffered permanent injuries to her left hand her dominant hand during the attack, her attorney Colleen Flynn said in a news conference on Friday.

Woman mauled by ‘find and bite’ police dog sues L.A. County Sheriff’s Department

Attorneys for Rosa Ramirez say she was talking to a deputy outside her home last year when an off-leash patrol dog clamped down on her hand, permanently injuring her.

Harris, with children in tow, pulled into the lot, where the 37-year-old stopped his car and, according to authorities, began shouting threats at McConnell.

When McConnell approached his car, the department said, Harris fired a gun. McConnell returned fire. They were found by deputies with gunshot wounds and brought to the hospital, where both men died.

The children were not physically harmed, but a man at the scene was shot in the hand, deputies said.

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Sandra McDonald is a summer intern with the Fast Break Desk, the Los Angeles Times’ breaking news team. She grew up in north central Florida, just an hour south of the University of Florida where she studied journalism and worked with the local NPR station, WUFT, and Fresh Take Florida, a news service focused on statewide and political coverage.