Jonathan Mauk, 59, a father of three and grandfather of two, lost his life in an unfortunate incident at a Walmart in Highland, California on Monday, February 5, 2024.
The tragedy unfolded following a minor vehicle collision in the parking lot of the retail store.
Mauk, who was at the store to buy ingredients for his family’s beef jerky recipe, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Supersport, a car he had custom-built himself. He inadvertently made contact with another car while both drivers were backing up in the parking lot. Mauk then approached the other driver, Shawntece Marie Norton, 37, to offer an apology, according to the San Bernardino Police.
The interaction quickly escalated from a verbal dispute, with Norton doing all of the yelling, to a violent episode when Norton retrieved a firearm from her vehicle and shot Mauk, who died on the spot from his injuries.
Law enforcement officials located Norton at an apartment complex less than 12 hours after the incident. During her arrest, police confiscated an unregistered firearm believed to be the murder weapon. She is now facing murder charges with additional sentencing enhancements for using and discharging a firearm and causing severe bodily harm. Norton has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently in custody awaiting a pre-preliminary hearing.
Mauk’s sudden departure has left his family deeply affected. His son, Matthew Mauk, remembered his father’s selflessness and his joy in being a grandfather. He discovered a letter after his father’s death where Jonathan Mauk expressed his deep affection for his grandchildren and his readiness to sacrifice everything for his family.
The local community has rallied around the Mauk family in this difficult time, raising over $7,000 through a GoFundMe campaign launched to help cover funeral expenses.