Today in history On May 9, 1980 – In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank

Today in history

On May 9, 1980 – In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and thirty-three police and civilian vehicles are destroyed in the chase.

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On May 9, 1980, the quiet city of Norco, California, became the epicenter of one of the most violent and chaotic crimes in state history. Five heavily armed men, inspired by apocalyptic beliefs and anti-government sentiment, stormed a Security Pacific Bank with the intent of funding a self-sufficient compound in anticipation of societal collapse. The robbers carried military-style weapons, including semi-automatic rifles and homemade explosives, far outmatching the standard-issue firearms of the local police. The robbery quickly spiraled out of control when police arrived mid-heist, triggering a deadly and prolonged firefight.

As the gunmen fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, a massive law enforcement pursuit ensued that spanned more than 40 miles and crossed multiple jurisdictions. The suspects, still heavily armed, continued to exchange gunfire with pursuing officers throughout the chase, even hurling homemade pipe bombs onto the freeway in an attempt to slow their pursuers. The scale and intensity of the violence were unprecedented, with over 30 police and civilian vehicles damaged or destroyed. Tragically, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy James Evans was killed in the gun battle, and two of the robbers also died in the ensuing shootouts.

The Norco bank robbery highlighted severe gaps in law enforcement preparedness for such heavily armed criminal threats. In the aftermath, the incident prompted significant changes in police training, tactics, and equipment, particularly the move toward better armament for patrol officers and the growth of SWAT units across the country. The event left a lasting impact on both the community and law enforcement policies nationwide, standing as a grim reminder of how quickly violence can erupt in the face of extreme ideology and military-grade firepower.