MORENO VALLEY: Officials seek help identifying suspects who shot paintballs at shoppers

MORENO VALLEY – Officials are asking for the public’s help identifying and locating three subjects after they were caught firing paintballs at shoppers as they walked through a parking lot. One of several victims who were reportedly struck by the fired paintballs was a child, according to sheriff’s officials.

Police are asking for help identifying three subjects who were caught firing paintballs at shoppers walking through a Moreno Valley parking lot. MVPD photo

The three subjects reportedly threatened witnesses before they fled from the area.

The incident happened the evening of Tuesday, April 4, at a shopping center in the 23000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard in Moreno Valley.

In spite of the truck and the subjects being spotted at several locations throughout Moreno Valley and numerous tips and leads from citizens, neither the suspects nor any the victims of the incident have been identified or located.

“The Moreno Valley Police Department…is committed to the safety of the citizens of Moreno Valley…and is actively investigating this incident,” Moreno Valley police officials wrote in a social media press release. “Investigators appreciate all the information we have received so far; however, we still have not spoken to anyone that was shot at or hit with a paintball.”

Deputies responded to the location after several people, including employees of the business, called 911 to report the incident. Callers told dispatchers that the driver of a white U-Haul pickup truck and his two passengers were firing paintball rounds at shoppers from inside the truck.

After employees at one of the businesses were alerted to what was happening, they went out to the parking lot to intervene. During the confrontation, one of the employees began taking photographs of the suspects to provide to responding deputies.

The three subjects allegedly shot several victims, including a child, with paint balls. MVPD photo

The three subjects reportedly became angry and threatened to harm the employee taking the photographs, while reaching into the passenger compartment of the rented truck as if to retrieve a weapon.

After being threatened and fearing for their own safety, the employees retreated back to the safety of their store.

The suspects then fled the location prior to the deputies arrival.

Anyone who was a victim of this incident or who has information regarding this investigation is encouraged to immediately contact Investigator Marcuse or Deputy Ramirez at the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700 or (951) 247-8700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV170940541 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Police are asking for help identifying three subjects who were caught firingpaintballs at shoppers walking through a Moreno Valley parking lot. MVPD photo

The three subjects allegedly shot several victims, including a child, with paint balls. MVPD photo

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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 and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.