RIVERSIDE: Man fatally shot near Riverside’s Downtown Entertainment District
RIVERSIDE – Officials are investigating after a man was fatally shot near the City of Riverside’s Downtown Entertainment District Thursday, April 27. The fatal, early-morning shooting happened less than one-quarter mile from the Riverside Convention Center, on the 3300 block of Fourth Street near Lime Street.
Officials attempted life-saving measures; however, the victim died at the scene. Loudlabs News photo
The victim, who died at the scene, has not yet been identified, pending notification of the man’s family and further investigation.
Riverside Police and Fire officials responded to the area after “several residents in the immediate area” called 911 to report “multiple gun shots being heard,” Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback explained in a written press release after the deadly incident.
When emergency first responders arrived at the location “they located an adult male who was suffering from what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound,” said Railsback.
Firefighter/paramedics immediately began providing life-saving measures and attempted to revive the victim; however the man succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene.
“Members of the Riverside Fire Department, along with (AMR) emergency medical technicians, were unable to resuscitate the man due to his injuries,” Railsback explained.
Riverside police officers discuss the deadly shooting. Loudlabs News photo
Witnesses at the scene later said the victim was suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.
One witness, who declined to be identified out of fear for her own safety, said she was inside a nearby residence when she heard “a bunch of loud pops.” When she went outside to check the area, she saw what appeared to be a person lying on the sidewalk.
“The man wasn’t moving at all,” the witness said. “At that point, I immediately locked my doors and called police, who arrived within minutes.”
“After that, it was like there were police and detectives everywhere,” the witness, who said she had already provided a statement to police, said.
Detectives from the department’s Robbery – Homicide Unit and Gang Intelligence Unit responded to the location and assumed the investigation. They were assisted by Riverside County Coroner officials, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and evidence technicians from the department’s Forensic Unit.
Officials remained at the scene of the deadly shooting for several hours. Loudlabs News photo
After interviewing witnesses from the scene, police later reportedly said they believe a suspect got out of a vehicle and fired numerous rounds before getting back into their vehicle and speeding away.
While officials investigated the deadly shooting, they temporarily closed Lime Street between Fifth and Third Streets in both directions. They also had closed down Fourth Street from Lime to Mulberry Streets.
The circumstances that led to the fatal shooting remain unknown and the investigation into the fatal incident is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the deadly shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Jim Brandt at (951) 353-7137 or Detective Mike Medici at (951) 353-7104.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be updated as it becomes available.
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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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.