Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ben Ramirez
File # MV230740353
Update:
As this investigation continued, two additional suspects were identified as Lawrence Garcia, 34-year-old of Riverside, and Carlos Vitela, 21-year-old of Riverside. On March 29, 2023, at 6:55 p.m., investigators from the Major Crimes Unit located and detained these two suspects during an occupied vehicle check in the 3900 block of S. Riverside Drive, Colton.
Both Garcia and Vitela were arrested for murder and attempted murder, and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center. This investigation is ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Munoz with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Fazio at the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station at 951-486-6700.
Update:
During the course of this investigation, the shooting was determined to have occurred during a robbery. During the incident, one of the suspects was the deceased male, identified as Robert Valdez, 30-year-old of Riverside, who was shot by the victim. The robbery victim was also shot during the incident. Two additional suspects were identified as Alex Galvan, 21-year-old of Moreno Valley, and Briciera Santacruz, 21-year-old of Riverside. The Major Crimes Unit detained Galvan during a traffic stop on Toucan Pl., in Moreno Valley, around 11:30 p.m. on March 16, 2023. Santacruz was also arrested at a residence in Moreno Valley, around 11:45 p.m.
Both suspects were arrested for murder and attempted murder and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center. This investigation is ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Munoz with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Fazio at the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station at 951-486-6700.
Details:
On March 16, 2023, at about 11:32 p.m., deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station responded to a report of a shooting in the 12000 block of Clark St., Moreno Valley. Deputies arrived within minutes and located a deceased adult male with gunshot wounds. While deputies secured the area as a crime scene, evidence led deputies to an apartment east of the first male subject. Deputies located a second adult male suffering from gunshot wounds inside the apartment. Emergency medical personnel arrived and he was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening wounds. Investigators from Moreno Valley Sheriff Station and the Central Homicide Unit responded to conduct the investigation.
Neither of the male subjects will be identified at this time. This investigation is currently on-going and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Munoz with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Fazio at the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station at 951-486-6700.
Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff's Homicide Tipline online form.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
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