A high school basketball coach who was shot multiple times drove himself to a nearby police station and was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, police said Tuesday.
"The student athletes were, as expected, in shock, very quiet," said Rialto Unified School District spokeswoman Syeda Jafri.
Steve Johnson stopped near Seccombe Lake Park (map) in the 500 block of N. Sierra Way on Monday about 7:45 p.m. to use the restroom. The 47-year-old Yucaipa resident was driving to the south end of San Bernardino to fuel up his car, police said.
While in the parking lot, three men approached the coach and tried to steal his wallet.
"During this time one or more of the suspects fired a handgun at the victim, striking him several times in the upper torso. The suspects fled on foot with no property," according to a statement from the San Bernardino Police Department.
Johnson drove himself to the police department. He was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
"We are shocked and saddened at this horrific news," Jafri said in a statement. "The outpouring of love and support from not only the Rialto community, but so many in the Inland Empire, for this championship human being has been tremendously overwhelming."
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"Coach Steve Johnson's selflessness and unyielding dedication to the children of Rialto is matched by his kind spirit. Our hearts are with the Johnson family," Jafri said.
Johnson coaches boys basketball at Eisenhower High School in Rialto. He began working in the district as a math teacher in 1992.
In 2008-2009, he took the boys basketball team to the California State Championship. He won the Los Angeles Times coach of the year award in 2009.
He also currently serves as the school's athletic director.
The Eisenhower boys varsity basketball team trounched the Redlands Terriers 62-33 in an away game that one parent said was "for Steve." Assistant coach Ray Jimmerson led the Eagles in Johnson's absence, Jafri said.
With seemingly no witnesses or security cameras at the crime scene, police said they have little information to go on. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call police at 909-384-5742, or 909-384-5656.
