UPDATED: SAN JACINTO: Officials release photos of “person of interest” in brutal, concrete-slab attack
UPDATE: Friday, Aug. 4, 5 p.m.
Officials release photos of “person of interest” in brutal, concrete-slab attack
SAN JACINTO — Authorities have released images of a man they say is a “person of interest” in the brutal, concrete-slab attack that left a 44-year-old San Jacinto man in critical condition. The victim’s identity has not been released by officials.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating and identifying a man they say is a “person of interest” in the brutal attack. RSO images.
The violent and bloody incident happened sometime yesterday morning, near several county buildings, in the 1300 block of State Street in San Jacinto.
Security cameras at the county facilities proved instrumental in providing officials with footage that authorities say led them to seeking the man who is now listed as a person of interest. The horrific attack shocked and horrified valley residents at the level of brutality the unknown and unidentified suspect inflicted on the victim.
No new information or updates have been provided about the man who was attacked; however friends of the victim previously stated the man was a transient who resides in the San Jacinto Valley.
Officials have not released any known motive or other information regarding their investigation; which they say is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Investigator Roy at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station at (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number I172150009 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
This is a developing story that will be updated as additional information becomes available.
UPDATE: Thursday, Aug. 3, 11 p.m.
Man in critical condition after violent, bloody, concrete-slab attack
SAN JACINTO — Sheriff’s officials confirmed they are conducting an attempted homicide investigation after a man was found suffering from severe head trauma after possibly being beaten with a large, concrete slab. The large piece of concrete was believed to be an underground utility meter cover. It was left – covered with blood – at the scene of the violent and bloody attack.
A blood-soaked belt was one of numerous items collected as evidence during the sheriff’s investigation. Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents photo
The victim, a 44-year-old, San Jacinto man, was found unconscious and unresponsive early this morning. The man, who was believed to be homeless, was reportedly discovered by a friend who had been sleeping nearby.
When sheriff and medical personnel arrived at the scene, they located the victim “unconscious and suffering from severe head trauma,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Duckett explained in a written press release after the incident and initial investigation.
“The male was transported to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition,” said Duckett, who did not release any further information or details about the bloody attack.
No suspects have been named and no arrests have been made.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Investigator Roy at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station at (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number I172150009 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
This is a developing story that will be updated as additional information becomes available.
SAN JACINTO — Officials are conducting an investigation after a man was found suffering major, traumatic injuries after being attacked early, Thursday morning, Aug. 3. The man was found in the 1300 block of State Street, near the Riverside County Probation and Riverside County Department of Children’s Services offices north of W. Esplanade Avenue, in San Jacinto.
An evidence technician documents and photographs the bloody crime scene. Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents photo
The early-morning investigation began after a friend of the man found the victim suffering major head injuries. Witnesses at the scene said the victim appeared to have been severely beaten, possibly with a heavy piece of concrete.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station received a 911 call just before 6:45 a.m., from a person who reported having found his friend unconscious and non-responsive. He was suffering from severe head trauma.
When deputies and other emergency first responders arrived, they located the victim and a bloody crime scene. Numerous personal items that reportedly belonged to the victim were found around the area where the man was attacked.
Firefighter/paramedics provided life-saving measures to the gravely injured victim before AMR medics transported him to a local hospital. He was reported to be in critical condition.
Investigators from the San Jacinto Police Station and other officials responded to the location to investigate the violent and bloody incident. They were assisted by forensic technicians from the department’s Forensic Services Bureau.
Over the next several hours, evidence technicians were seen documenting, photographing and collecting evidence; including blood soaked clothing, a large duffel bag stuffed with clothing and other items, a backpack, shoes and other personal effects that were left where the victim had been when he was attacked.
It was not immediately known if the victim was asleep or awake when he was brutally attacked.
A large, blood soaked, piece of concrete was believed to have been used in the brutal and violent attack. Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents photo
Officials also collected a large, rectangular slab of concrete, one side of which appeared to be covered in blood. The bloody piece of concrete appeared to be a below ground, utility meter cover.
Officials have not yet stated if the piece of concrete had been used in the man’s gruesome attack that left blood covering a large section of sidewalk where the incident happened or how the victim was injured; however, several witnesses at the scene said the concrete slab was used in the attack.
Two area transients who remained at the scene for several hours – standing outside the cordoned-off crime scene – who identified themselves as “Sonny” and “Tagger,” said they believed the victim, whose real name they did not know, was homeless. They said he was known to sleep in different public areas around the San Jacinto and Hemet area.
Another witness at the scene, who declined to be identified, said he was sleeping nearby when the attack happened. The witness said he found the gravely injured victim, who he knows as Aaron, when he woke this morning.
“I woke up in the morning at 6:43 a.m. and looked over at my friend,” said the witness, who described that he then saw the victim was “covered in blood.”
The witness said when he tried calling his friend’s name several times, he did not answer and was non-responsive. The man who found the victim said he found the brutally beaten man on his back and that the victim’s shirt was off.
Deputies, investigators and other officials discuss the attack that left an unidentified man clinging to life. Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents photo
After finding the victim, the witness said, “I ended up calling 911 and (deputies and other officials) came out.” (See witness interview in video below.)
No arrests have been made and officials have not released any information yet about the incident or investigation.
An official from the San Jacinto Police Station advised that a press release was expected to be released later this evening.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident or who witnessed how the victim was injured is encouraged to contact San Jacinto police officials at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I172150009 and can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as additional information becomes available.
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Will Whelan/Hemet Valley Incidents video
Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News video
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.
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.
Yesterday my nephew posted about a LEO being shot by the occupants of a car that was on fire by one of the occupants inside. I thought that was shocking and horrifying. This is right up there with that. A homeless person being attacked with a slab of cement. Regardless of the circumstances no one deserves to be attacked like this. I know this world is full of good people, but when I hear horror stories like this I am truly saddened.
What the hell is wrong with people????Prayers for the victim.
I think I know who did it he looks exactly like him after this incident he left California