Updated after the jump: Police say they have their man.

There's a fast food killer on the loose in Southern California, and cops say he might have hit eight restaurants and convenience stores in the Inland Empire.

The latest crime possibly tied to the suspect with the same M.O. — a man on-foot wearing a bandana and a hoodie or ski jacket — happened early Sunday when a 20-year-old was fatally shot as he waited with his girlfriend for their order at a Taco Bell drive-thru in Rialto.

The girlfiend, identified by Fox 11 News as Viridiana Sanchez, told the station that during the confrontation …

… “My boyfriend saw an opening to like go so he accelerated. That's when he was shot.”

The victim was ID'd as 20-year-old Joshua Michael Huizar of Rialto. The San Bernardino Sun reports that he gave up his wallet but was apparently shot anyway as he tried to drive off.

He did at 1:45 a.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

The attack on Base Line Road near North Willow Avenue was reported about 1 a.m., according to the paper.


View Larger Map

Sanchez says the robber demanded cash and cell phones but that the couple had neither.

Fox 11 says she had just gotten off work at that very Taco Bell when Huizar rolled up to get some food — part of a late-night snack habit he had, his mother told the station.

Cops say told the Sun possible the robber could be connected to similar crimes in the area, including one on Friday at a Wienerschnitzel that share's the Taco Bell's shopping center.

In neighboring Redlands a woman was shot last month at a Dairy Queen under circumstances that could be similar, the paper reports.

Anyone with information on the Sunday's shooter was asked to call Rialto police at 909-820-2550.

Update: Rialto police say 20-year-old Dalray Kawane Andrews was arrested in connection with the case Tuesday. He was described as a San Bernardino-area gang member on probation.

Authorities told reporters they're not sure why the suspect shot Huizar, who had cooperated with his robber. He was shot “for no apparent reason,” according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

First posted at 7:08 a.m. on Monday, April 11.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.