UPDATED: LA QUINTA: Arrest made in connection with February murder

UPDATE: With arrest information and release of victim’s identity

LA QUINTA – A La Quinta resident was arrested Dec. 1, in connection with the February murder of another La Quinta resident. The homicide happened Feb. 21.

After sheriff’s officials announced the arrest of 20-year-old, Robert Ryan Lugo, coroner’s officials identified the victim as 47-year-old, Byron Lamar Crews. Crews’ identity had previously been withheld by coroner’s officials at the request of sheriff’s officials while they investigated his murder.

During the nearly 10-month-long investigation, Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide investigators identified Lugo as a suspect in Crews’ murder, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Walter Mendez.

Sheriff’s officials from the department’s Special Enforcement Bureau located Lugo on Hacienda Heights Drive in Desert Hot Springs Dec. 1. They arrested Lugo for Crews’ murder about 4:00 p.m. He was booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility.

The homicide investigation began Sunday, Feb. 21., after deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s La Quinta Police station responded to a residence in the 52700 block of Avenida Navarro in La Quinta, regarding an assault. The incident was reported shortly after 8 a.m.

When deputies arrived on scene they located Crews unresponsive inside the home. Deputies also found Lugo at the residence suffering from unspecified injuries.

Medical personnel were summoned to the residence and both subjects were transported to a local hospital. Despite medical intervention, Crews later died at the hospital. Lugo was treated for his injuries and discharged from the hospital.

Based on the circumstances, investigators from the La Quinta Police Department and the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the residence and assumed the investigation. Their investigation continued until Lugo’s arrest.

A jail record search revealed Lugo was booked into jail on suspicion of murder with malice and receiving stolen property. He is being held on $1 million dollars bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Indio’s Larson Justice Center Dec. 5.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Investigator Jose Vasquez of the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3529, or Investigator Melissa Nieburger of the Thermal Station at (760) 863-8950. Callers can refer to incident file number LA160520019 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.