CALIMESA: Man arrested, charged in shooting death of woman

CALIMESA — Authorities have arrested a man they say was responsible for shooting a woman “multiple times” with a rifle, Saturday, Aug. 12. The victim died at the scene, according to Sheriff’s officials. The deadly shooting happened at a mobile home park in the 35000 block of Chandler Avenue in Calimesa.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Calimesa Police Station responded to the Big Oak Gardens Mobile Home Park at 11:10 p.m., after emergency dispatchers were notified regarding the deadly shooting.

When they arrived, deputies found an adult female lying in the roadway. She had sustained “multiple gunshot wounds,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained in a written press release after the deadly incident.

The victim succumbed to her injuries and paramedics pronounced her deceased at the scene. Her name has not been released, pending notification of her family.

During their investigation, Rex Edwards, 61, of Calimesa, “was immediately identified as a suspect and detained at the scene,” Clear explained.

Based on the circumstances, the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and investigators from the Calimesa Police Department responded and assumed the investigation.

Based on their initial investigation, officials arrested Edwards. He was booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of murder and committing a felony while armed with an assault weapon. Officials did not specify the type of weapon used or if the rifle was recovered by investigators.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Investigator Hensley at the Cabazon Station at 951-922-7100, or Investigator Navarrete at the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number CM172240019 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

 

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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.