CORONA

Coroner ID's Man Found Dead Inside Van at Center of Bomb Threat Investigation

A man found dead inside a van that was the focus of a bomb threat investigation has been identified by coroner's officials as 47-year-old Sami Malas of Corona.

On Tuesday morning, Malas' body was found inside the rear of a van parked in the 800 block of Main Street in Corona. A note on the windshield said the vehicle contained dangerous gases and would explode if moved, according to the Corona Police Department.

The threat prompted the evacuation of neighbors and hundreds of students at nearby Parkridge Elementary School.

Tactical robots opened the back doors to reveal blue containers and a man lying down inside the back of the van.

Police say more than two gallons of toxic chemicals were found inside the van, but there were no explosive devices. They gave the all-clear just before 7 p.m.

The cause of Malas' death remains under investigation.

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