Suspect Who Died By Suicide At Rady Children's Hospital ID'd

SAN DIEGO — A suspected bank robber who led a police chase from Riverside County to San Diego County before taking his own life outside Rady Children's Hospital was a man wanted in connection with several bank robberies.

While sitting inside an SUV outside the hospital, Rolando Fremista, 53, of Desert Hot Springs fatally shot himself Thursday shortly before 4:30 a.m. during a standoff with a SWAT team that lasted roughly seven hours. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Riverside Police Department, Fremista was the armed and masked suspect wanted in connection with a robbery at Provident Bank branch on Van Buren Boulevard in Riverside that occurred just after 6 p.m. Wednesday.

"Riverside police initiated a pursuit of an armed bank robbery suspect that is currently going southbound on the 15 Freeway in Temecula," the department tweeted at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. "(Riverside County Sheriff's Department) has been assisting along with (California Highway Patrol)."

Fremista called 911 during the early part of the pursuit and threatened to kill himself, police said.

By around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, he had pulled over in the driveway of Rady Children's Hospital emergency room and was refusing orders to get out of the SUV and surrender to police.

At 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, the San Diego Police Department tweeted that its SWAT team was involved and civilians were asked to avoid the area around the hospital, located at 3020 Children's Way.

"Occupants of Children's Hospital (Emergency Room) who are NOT in a safe location should SHELTER IN PLACE & call 911 and provide their location for assistance," SDPD said.

Services at the hospital were put on hold and people in need of medical services were asked to go to a different hospital, the department said. The hospital was able to resume normal operations by 5:30 a.m.

"Rady Children's would like to reassure families that the Hospital is safe, secure and open for business," the hospital said in a statement. "Access has been restored to the main campus, including the emergency department. Scheduled surgeries and clinics will continue and parents should keep their appointments. Thank you to law enforcement for keeping our campus safe and to parents and families for their patience and understanding."

Fremista was a possible suspect in four robberies over the past 10 months in Riverside, San Bernardino and San Luis Obispo counties, dating back to April 2019, according to a report from abc7.

By Patch Editor Toni McAllister. City News Service contributed to this report.