UPDATED: Arrest made in Mead Valley homicide, victim ID’d
UPDATED: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10:30 p.m.
MEAD VALLEY — Authorities have announced the arrest of a man they say was responsible for the Tuesday, Oct. 3 murder of a Mead Valley resident. The homicide, the second to happen in Mead Valley in three days, happened at a residential property on the 20000 block of Gaston Road in the unincorporated community of Mead Valley.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit arrested Maurilio Felipe Chavez, 30, of Good Hope for the murder of Francisco Agustin-Estrada, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained in an updated press release within hours of Chavez’ arrest.
Investigators arrested Chavez on N. Perris Boulevard about 7 p.m. He was booked into the Southwest Detention Center. Online jail records indicated Chavez was booked on a single count of murder. He remains in custody, held on $1 million dollars bail.
Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Investigator Flores at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1000, or Investigator Gonzales at the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number PC172760018 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
ORIGINAL STORY: Officials investigating second Mead Valley homicide in just three days
MEAD VALLEY — For the second time in just three days, sheriff’s officials are investigating a murder after a man was fatally shot in Mead Valley, Tuesday morning, Oct. 3. The deadly shooting happened at a residential property on the 20000 block of Gaston Road, west of Alexander and northeast of Markham Streets, in Mead Valley.
The locations of the two fatal incidents are almost exactly two miles apart from each other. Despite the two homes’ proximity to each other, officials have not yet stated if there is any connection between the two homicides and have released very little information about yesterday’s shooting death.
SEE RELATED: MEAD VALLEY: Officials track down and arrest alleged murder suspect in South Gate
The investigation began about 11:37 a.m., when deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Station responded to the location after receiving reports of a shooting at the home, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained in a written press release after the incident.
When deputies arrived they found a “Hispanic, male adult on the property with a gunshot wound,” said Clear. “Deputies began live saving procedures until paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim deceased.”
Officials have not released the victim’s name, pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.
Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Perris Station and the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Investigator Flores at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1000, or Investigator Gonzales at the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number PC172760018 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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 27 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 14 grandchildren.