Man arrested after leading Jurupa Valley deputies to murdered girlfriend

JURUPA VALLEY – A man who called 911 to report a theft of property instead led responding deputies to a woman who had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The early-morning investigation began at a residence in the 10000 block of Jurupa Road, in Jurupa Valley, on Sunday, June 5, according to a sheriff official.

Rene Quintanilla Jr. was arrested after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend in Jurupa Valley.

Deputies identified the man as Rene Quintanilla Jr., 29. Following an investigation, investigators arrested Quintanilla for murder, willful cruelty to a child and other charges. He was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

A sheriff’s press release indicated Quintanilla was being held without bail. However, following his arraignment, Quintanilla’s bail was lowered to one million dollars.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of her family.

At 1:44 a.m., deputies from the Riverside Sheriff’s Jurupa Valley Police Station responded to the home after Quintanilla called 911 to report a theft. When deputies arrived at the residence, “Quintanilla disregarded his report of the theft and instead led officers to a deceased adult female inside the residence,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained. “The woman appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound.”

Quintanilla reportedly told deputies the shooting victim was his girlfriend. Based on the circumstances, deputies detained Quintanilla for further investigation.

Investigators from the Jurupa Valley Station and the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the residence and began a homicide investigation. Based on their investigation deputies arrested Quintanilla for murder at the Jurupa Valley Station at 2:50 p.m.

Quintanilla was arraigned in at the Riverside Hall of Justice this afternoon, June 8.

A Superior Court records search revealed the District Attorney’s Office filed charges of murder with malice, willful cruelty to a child, discharge of a firearm causing death or great bodily injury, possession of a firearm in violation of his probation, and violation of probation.

No information was immediately available regarding the circumstances surrounding the child cruelty allegation. However, court records indicated this was the second time Quintanilla was charged with willful cruelty to a child. The previous case was filed in March 2012. The charge was later dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.

The records search also showed Quintanilla has been charged with failure to appear in court numerous times and that another woman – who was not the victim of this homicide – filed and obtained a restraining order against Quintanilla Jan. 5, after alleging domestic violence against him.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is encouraged to contact Investigator Bishop of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777, or Investigator Lutz at the Jurupa Valley Police Department at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number JV161570017 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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