Suspects Plead Not Guilty In Connection With Deadly Lake Elsinore Home Invasion Robbery
Written by Trevor Montgomery
For Valley News
UPDATE #1
Two men accused in a fatal home invasion robbery in Lake Elsinore each pleaded not guilty today to charges of murder, attempted robbery, shooting at an occupied dwelling and burglary.
The deadly shooting occurred on the night of Nov. 7, at a residence located on the 53000 block of Beales Street, in Lake Elsinore.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Oscar Garcia Bustos and Jose Luis Pacheco, both 21-year-old residents of Bakersfield and an 18-year-old man whose name has not been made public at the request of sheriff’s investigators, attempted to force their way into the Beales Street residence.
According to Sgt. Wallace Clear, of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the defendants allegedly tried to force their way into the home, prompting one of the occupants inside the residence to open fire on the men. Both of the charged suspects returned fire at the home owner. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene. It has not yet been released if the deceased suspect also returned fire during the gun battle.
Evidence recovered at the scene indicated during the exchange of gunfire, the unidentified 18-year-old was mortally wounded. After fleeing from the residence, Bustos and Pacheco dropped the third man at a Riverside hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Bustos and Pacheco were arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Both suspects are expected back in court on Jan. 8 for a felony settlement conference for Jan. 8.
Investigators have alleged the Beales St. property where the attempted home invasion robbery occurred was used for illegal marijuana sales. The owner of the home involved in the shot out, identified as 45-year-old Elisaldo Martinez, was also arrested the day after the shooting incident on suspicion of possession of drugs for sale.
Martinez has since been charged with illegal cultivation of marijuana and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and narcotics. He’s being held in lieu of $25,000 at the Southwest Detention Center, where both Bustos and Pacheco remain incarcerated. Martinez is scheduled to appear in court next on Dec. 22.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAKE ELSINORE – On Saturday, November 7, a Lake Elsinore home invasion turned deadly when one of the suspects was shot and killed by the owner of the home that was being invaded.
At about 11:35 pm, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station were dispatched to the report of a home invasion robbery and shooting, that had occurred on the 53000 block of Beales Street, in Lake Elsinore.
Upon arrival, deputies learned that during a home invasion robbery several suspects had gained entry or were trying to gain entry into a residence on Beale Street when the owner of the home confronted the suspects with a gun, at which time a gun battle ensued. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene.
During the course of their investigation deputies located evidence suggesting one of the suspects had been struck by gunfire from the homeowner.
The deputies later learned one of the suspects, who had been injured during the shooting, was transported by two of the suspects to a Riverside area hospital. That suspect, who has not been identified pending notification his of next of kin, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
According to Sgt. Wallace Clear of the Riverside County Sheriff Department, the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation with assistance from Lake Elsinore Station investigators and deputies.
The subsequent investigation revealed the deceased suspect and his two partners had targeted the residence on Beales Street for a home invasion robbery. Their attempt proved unsuccessful when the homeowner confronted the would-be robbers with a handgun and a gunfight ensued. The gunfight resulted in the fatal injury to one of the three robbers.
Based on their investigation, sheriff’s officials arrested two suspects the following day, 21-year-old, Jose Pacheco and 21-year-old, Oscar Bustos, both of Bakersfield.
During their investigation, investigators also arrested 45-year-old, Elisaldo Martinez of Lake Elsinore for an outstanding felony warrant. No other information was available regarding Martinez’ connection to the alleged crime.
All three suspects were transported to the Southwest Detention Center where they were booked. Pacheco was booked for 1st degree home invasion robbery. Bustos was booked for 1st degree home invasion robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property. Both Pacheco and Bustos’ bail were set at $150,000.
Pacheco and Bustos are scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center on November 12 at 8:00 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Investigator Bishop of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Shell at the Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form. Callers can refer to incident file number L153110085 and can remain anonymous.
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