40th Anniversary of the Norco Bank Robbery

May 9, 1980, marks a very important day as we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Deputy James B. Evans. On this day, 40 years ago, Deputy Evans was shot and killed when he was ambushed by bank robbers during the infamous Norco Bank Robbery. This incident drew deputies and police from across the Inland Empire into a running gun battle that is still one of the most violent in American History.⁣⁣
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⁣Today we honor Deputy James Evans with the following tribute. ⁣⁣The memory of his heroism will live on forever.⁣

[@rickobrien4025]

It's amazing to me that it took a similar situation 17 years later to wake up law enforcement to the need for tactical rifles to be available to street cops, in addition to their shotguns . This robbery was reviewed by our Rangemaster in my Academy class in 1983. He said any officer that doesn't carry a box of 12 gauge slugs in his briefcase is a fool. Now fast-forward to North Hollywood, 1997. If those responding LAPD units , that sat outside listening to that automatic gunfire coming from inside the Bank , if they had re- loaded their 870's with slugs , it wouldn't have penetrated the shitbags body armor , but it would have knocked them on their asses, and they would have been contained .

[@MushroomsMythologyandMedicine]

I witnessed this from across the street. I was at the Carl's Jr. then moved over to Stater Brothers. Pretty intense for a 9 year old kid.

[@AmericanCitizen-nf9xc]

I used to “live” at that Carls! Remember when McDonalds and Carls had their Fry War in the 70s? Carls had the crinkle fries that were crispy on the outside. …the dumb stuff we remember in life 😅 (By the way, that isn’t my pic on my profile) I lived on 4th/Temescal.

[@blessingsoflight]

Great memorial in Honor of him. I cant believe it has been 40 years.

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

This happen right down the street from me. I past the now empty lot where the bank was a dozen times a day and think of what it must of been like. To all his family and friends, not a day goes by without thinking of your loss and that day. RIP James B Evans

[@joshuagentry-1388]

My dad moved to norco the day this happened when he was 10, he told me that was the day he knew he needed to move out of California, we recently visited norco and it was fun seeing where my dad grew up still

[@gregorycary9982]

To the individuals who hit the dislike button. I've noticed that you never comment. the men and women of law enforcement have a heart for their job. Their devotion is selfless. Even if you dislike/hate them, they will still answer YOUR call for help

[@Lilo-ii]

Wow I just read ‘Norco ‘80’ by Peter Houlahan and would recommend it to anyone interested in this bank robbery. I was tearing up when it described his death and it turned into full on tears when they described his wife finding out after her shift driving buses for the RTA. ‘You know, Mary, some men never get to see their sons grow up’ one of the last things he said to his wife while holding his infant son.

[@AmericanCitizen-nf9xc]

I was almost 12 when this happened. I lived on the same street of the bank (4th st). It was NUTS! SWAT used our house for their meeting spot. We picked out bullets from trees for years after. The officer that was killed (Evans) was my brother’s probation officer. Nice man.

[@socalifone3044]

RIP Deputy Evans ❤️🇺🇲💙

[@edheib3558]

I was there in the parking lot, at Carl's Jr in my pick up facing the bank saw everything, one bullet went through my dash on the right side into my gas tank. I was 21years old. eating a chili dog. I still have the bullet.

[@frankhinkle5772]

Rest in Peace brother, your shift has ended.

[@757Church]

He is a true hero. God bless his family!

[@tomhansen6115]

I'll always wonder why God hasn't seen fit to give us more men like Jim Evans

[@markbergthold6181]

Sad day.

[@brunothepug8807]

Rest in peace brother.

[@CGFIELDS]

RIP

[@RByrne]

Very nice words. Wish all police were like him

[@sgtzsquad]

Semper Fi sir! CT LEO April 1980 - July 2018

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Back when it was legal for cops to be cops!

[@edwardf6229]

Only if more of our politicians could appreciate our men and women in blue that have sacrificed their lives for our safety in this country.😢

[@littlebitofhope1489]

The people in the bank were just doing their jobs too, and their calm action kept many customers and employees from being killed. If they had done one thing wrong, many, many more would have been killed. They are heroes too.

[@sychomotorsports1056]

Of course nobody mentions that he was killed by another officer. Proven in the ballistics report.

[@dontonthdegree315]

Whatever.. The pigs showed poor training, even back then...

[@quentin1794]

You clearly don't know anything about law enforcement. This wasn't poor training. This was something nobody expected to happen, and at the time was something nobody could really prepare for. Poor training implies they purposely didn't train them on this when they knew about it, but that obviously was not the case. Modern day policing is much different and incidents like this have greatly influenced modern policing. Also, judging by the fact you're commenting on a video about a fallen deputy with terminology like "pig" it clearly shows you likely have a childish mindset of "screw all authority figures" and are likely unable to accept that in life there will be authority figures who have power over you. Hopefully you grow out of this mindset at some point. Before you post such an uneducated and ignorant comment in the future, please consider closely what you're saying publicly.

[@esharp3722]

*L I S T E N T O Y O U R S E L F*

[@evanjames81]

He was, actually, a former Green Beret during Vietnam. Training was not the issue.

[@littlebitofhope1489]

That actually wasn't true. There are some things they did that weren't great, like making employees stay IN the bank when they thought the robbers had planted bombs. But other than that, they did everything that was possible under the circumstances.

[@JohnSmith-cz9om]

Rest well brother. The full measure of devotion to duty and public safety.

[@garrickgarcia8152]

Garrick G Garcia We meet Colton Ca, You help me bring i n a bail jumper/THANL YOU GARRICK G GARCIA RET/BAIL AGENT/BOUNTY HUNTER.

[@djft6944]

Who helped you?

[@garrickgarcia8152]

Thank you for your service. GarrickG Garcia Ret Bail Agent/Bounty Hunter,