SAN BERNARDINO – (INT) – A career felon with several violation of probation arrests has been identified as the gunman who briefly overpowered a police officer in a scuffle before he was shot dead late Thursday night.

Mark Matthew Bender Jr., 35, had reportedly been seen jumping on some cars in a parking lot on East Baseline Street.

When an officer responding to a citizen’s call for help confronted Bender at the front door of a convenience store, Bender pulled a pistol from his pocket and as he turned, the officer fired off four shots. Bender died at a local hospital.

His loaded 9mm pistol was recovered.

Bender’s 17-year crime record included domestic violence, grand theft, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and receiving stolen property. He had additional arrests for false imprisonment, criminal threats, and attempted murder.

Story Date: October 25, 2020