TEMECULA: Victim ID’d, suspect arrested, after fatal stabbing at busy Walmart Supercenter

Sunday, Dec. 10, 8:36 p.m. 

TEMECULA —

UPDATE UPLOADING…PLEASE CHECK BACK.

 

TEMECULA — Officials are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man outside a Walmart Supercenter, Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 29. The Walmart shopping center where the deadly stabbing happened is at 32225 Temecula Parkway, near Meadows Parkway, in Temecula.

Officials have not released the victim’s name or any details other than the most basic of facts, citing the ongoing homicide investigation.

According to a Temecula Police Department social media release, the fatal stabbing began as an “altercation between two male adults outside of the Walmart property.” The incident then continued into the Walmart parking lot.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station responded to the Walmart Supercenter about 12:14 p.m., after receiving reports of a disturbance at the busy shopping center.

When they arrived, deputies found a male victim who had sustained an injury “consistent with a stab wound,” said officials.

Deputies immediately summoned medical personnel who attempted lifesaving measures before rushing the victim to an area hospital, where the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff.

According to the release, deputies investigating the incident detained a male adult described by officials as a “person of interest.” It was not immediately known if the person detained was found and detained at the Walmart or some other, nearby location.

Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Temecula Police Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

As deputies, investigators and other sheriff’s officials searched for evidence potentially related to the deadly incident, shoppers whose vehicles remained stranded inside the cordoned off area of the parking lot for several hours could be seen milling about; with many discussing the fatal stabbing and ongoing law enforcement activity.

Despite rumors from shoppers at the scene and others on social media, officials have said the fatal incident did not stem from a dispute regarding a parking space at the shopping center.

Investigators were hopeful that security cameras outside the Walmart would prove helpful in determining the exact sequence of events that led to the stabbing and death.

In an interview with Valley News, Riverside Sheriff’s CHU Sergeant Chris Willison later explained, “It does appear there are a lot of cameras fixed to the exterior of this building. Those are definitely going to be one of the avenues for homicide investigators to go down as an investigative lead and all of the video surveillance will be reviewed.”

Officials have stated there is no immediate threat to the public and there are no outstanding suspects related the incident.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the stabbing or knows details of what led to the fatal incident is encouraged to contact Temecula PD investigators at (951) 696-3000 or Central Homicide Unit investigator at (951) 955-2777. Callers 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.

 

Contact the editor: [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.