MENIFEE: Officials investigating double murder identify suspect being sought
MENIFEE — Officials are searching for a man they say was responsible for the shooting murder of two people Sunday evening, Aug. 13. The double murder happened in the 25000 block of Waldon Road, north of Bundy Canyon and west of Murrieta Roads, in Menifee.
Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit investigators have named Jesus Ponce, of Mecca, as a suspect in the double shooting murder of two men in Menifee, Aug. 13.
Based on their investigation, Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit investigators have identified and are searching for Jesus Sanchez Ponce, 39, of Mecca.
Officials allege Ponce fatally shot both victims before fleeing in a brown, 2007, GMC Sierra pick-up truck with California license plate number 8H85193, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Jeff Buompensiero explained in a written press release.
Officials have not released a motive in the double homicide and have not yet specified what led them to naming Ponce as a suspect in the deadly incident.
The homicide investigation began when deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Station responded to the location at 10:59 p.m., after receiving a 911 call from a person reporting an “unknown trouble” at the location.
“When they arrived, deputies located two deceased Hispanic male adults,” said Buompensiero, who explained, “Both sustained gunshot injuries that caused their deaths.”
It was not immediately known how or if Ponce was related to the two deceased victims.
Officials have not identified the victims, pending notification of the men’s families.
Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Perris Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.
During their subsequent investigation, investigators identified Ponce as a suspect in the shooting deaths. He should be considered armed and dangerous, according to Buompensiero.
Anyone with information about this incident or who knows the whereabouts of Ponce is encouraged to immediately contact Master Investigator Alfaro from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3528. Callers can refer to incident file number ME172250094 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.
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 13 – soon to be 14 – grandchildren.