Fontana police officer shoots passenger who pointed gun during Southern Calif. traffic stop

FONTANA, Calif. — A Fontana police officer has shot a passenger who pointed a gun during a Southern California traffic stop.

The officer wasn't hurt.

Sgt. Robert Morris says in a news release that the officer stopped a vehicle for an undisclosed traffic violation late Monday and as he approached the vehicle he saw the front passenger was holding a handgun.

The passenger, 35-year-old Enrique Mendez, then pointed the weapon at the officer.

The officer fired several rounds and wounded Mendez, who is hospitalized in unknown condition. Morris says he will be booked for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer.

Three other people in the vehicle weren't hurt.

Records show Mendez was recently released under California's prison realignment plan to eliminate overcrowding.

The officer's name is being withheld.