A group of suspects fired upon officers Monday night during an attempted robbery of a Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) freight train in California's Cajon Pass. The incident, described as a Wild West-style shootout, occurred between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains.
No members of the train crew or responding officers were injured during the attempted burglary. Information regarding what the suspects were seeking or if any items were stolen has not been released. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an ongoing investigation.
Video footage from the scene showed multiple San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies, along with air support, responding to the area. An ambulance and fire engine were also present. The incident took place just before 6:30 p.m. in the remote Cajon Pass, a significant transportation corridor.
BNSF is one of the largest freight carriers in the United States, operating a network of approximately 32,500 route miles across 28 states and three Canadian provinces. Many of its routes are located on the West Coast.
While major train robberies are infrequent today, they were more common in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. railroads reported over 75,000 theft incidents in 2025, resulting in more than $200 million in losses.
Cajon Pass is located about 20 miles northwest of San Bernardino.