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1300+Authorities in Victorville are asking the public for help identifying two men accused of kidnapping a driver at gunpoint and setting his vehicle on fire in a remote desert area over the weekend. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed both suspects remain at large as the investigation continues.
About the Incident: Kidnapping and Arson
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, when the victim was standing outside his 2015 Audi Q5 near Stoddard Wells Road in Victorville. According to the Sheriff’s Department, two unidentified men approached him, and one suspect brandished a firearm.
The armed suspect then ordered the victim into his own vehicle and directed him to drive to a desert area near the intersection of Emerson Street and Venus Avenue. Once they reached the isolated location, the suspects told the victim to run away before setting his SUV on fire.
Deputies from the Victorville Police Department, which operates as a contract station of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, responded to reports of a vehicle fire in the area and connected it to the kidnapping.
Suspect Description and Status of the Investigation
The suspects have been described as two unidentified Black male adults. As of this report, investigators say they have no confirmed leads on a motive for the attack, and both men remain unidentified and at large.
Potential Charges
Legal experts note that an incident involving a carjacking combined with forced movement of a victim can expose suspects to significantly enhanced charges under California law. Standard carjacking under California Penal Code Section 215 already qualifies as a violent felony.
However, because the victim was allegedly forced to drive at gunpoint into a remote area, prosecutors could pursue aggravated kidnapping during a carjacking under Penal Code Section 209.5, a charge that carries a potential sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
How to Help
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Victorville Police Department at 760-241-2911 or San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling or texting “REPORT” to We-Tip at 844-909-3006, or through the Sheriff’s Department’s online reporting system.
Support for Victims of Violent Crime in Victorville
Being carjacked, kidnapped, or threatened at gunpoint can leave lasting physical and emotional trauma, even when no direct injury occurs. Victims of violent crimes or fire damages in Victorville and throughout the High Desert may have legal options beyond the criminal case against their attackers.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a violent crime or vehicle-related incident in Victorville, the personal injury attorneys at Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer are available to discuss your rights and potential avenues for recovery.
About the Author
JEFFREY FAYNGOR, ESQ.
Jeffrey Fayngor is the founder of Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer and an experienced personal injury attorney dedicated to representing accident victims. He earned his J.D. from Whittier College School of Law and has recovered over $120 million for injured clients. He has built his practice around helping injury victims protect their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.