Man shot to death over fender-bender at San Bernardino Walmart; woman charged with murder



Jonathan Mauk, 59, was shot to death in the parking lot of the Walmart on E. Highland Avenue after a minor traffic collision on Feb. 5, 2024. Shawntece Marie Norton, 36, was arrested on suspicion of murder and pleaded not guilty to the charge. (Courtesy of Matthew Mauk)

By BRIAN ROKOS | brokos@scng.com | The Press-Enterprise
PUBLISHED: February 12, 2024 at 3:46 p.m. | UPDATED: February 13, 2024 at 4:35 p.m.

Prosecutors have charged a 36-year-old woman with murder in the shooting death of a man in a Walmart parking lot in San Bernardino that followed an altercation over a minor traffic collision, officials said Monday.

The final moments of 59-year-old Jonathan Mauk’s life were spent driving a classic car he had admired — a custom-built 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Supersport gifted by the son who owned it, said Matthew Mauk, who identified himself as one of Mauk’s three sons. His father, a San Bernardino resident, had driven to Walmart on the night of Feb. 5 to get supplies to make beef jerky, the son said.

The elder Mauk was backing up after passing a parking spot when he collided with a car that was backing out of another spot, said San Bernardino police Capt. Nelson Carrington. Mauk got out of his car to apologize to the other driver, said Matthew Mauk, citing a detective he spoke with.

“There was a verbal altercation, and that’s when per witness accounts, the suspect retrieved a firearm and shot the victim,” Carrington said. “It’s my understanding that the suspect is the one who did all of the yelling.” ... The suspect, Shawntece Marie Norton, 36, was carrying the gun at the time, and got out of her car and fired, Carrington said. Mauk died at the scene.

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