CHINO-MAN SHOT TO DEATH

CHINO - A man was shot to death late Saturday during a party.
Officers and paramedics responded to several 9-1-1 calls reporting shots fired in the 13100 block of Fifth Street at 9:40 p.m., said police Lt. Al Cheatham.

When they arrived, they found Valentin Barrita, 25, of Chino suffering from gunshot wounds. Barrita was taken to Chino Valley Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 10:15 p.m., according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

"When officers arrived, we found a 25-year-old victim in the driveway of a house where there was a party," Cheatham said.

Witnesses told police there was a fight between Barrita and his cousin. That fight led to the shooting, he said. Police are not sure what the fight was about.

Barrita was shot "several times in the upper torso and once in the head," Cheatham said.

Police have not yet named a suspect because there were 10 to 15 people in the area when the victim was shot, Cheatham said.

The Police Department is investigating the death and is looking for a "person of interest," Cheatham said.

The gun used in the shooting has not been found.

Police do not believe the killing was gang-related but have not ruled it out, Cheatham said.

Chino has now had two killings in less than two months after going about three years without a homicide.

The previous homicide was on March 15. Eduardo Cervantes of Chino was fatally stabbed after a

fight at a party in the 11800 block of Monte Vista Avenue, police said. There were 40 to 50 young adults at the party.
Prosecutors have charged 19-year-old David Hermosillo of Ontario with murder in that case.