UPDATED: Man who shot at MVPD patrol vehicle arrested for att’d murder of unarmed Sheriff’s CSO

UPDATED: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m.

MORENO VALLEY — A man officials allege fired a weapon at and struck a Moreno Valley PD patrol vehicle being driven by an unarmed community service officer was identified, located and arrested Tuesday, Dec. 12, the day after Monday afternoon’s shooting.

The shooting happened in the area of Cactus Avenue and Graham Street in Moreno Valley, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant William Stens explained in an earlier press release seeking help identifying and locating the alleged shooter.

The community service officer whose vehicle was hit by gunfire was not injured in the shooting and has not been identified by officials.

During their investigation, officials accessed the city of Moreno Valley’s City-Wide Camera System, which “partially captured” the shooting incident, according to Stens. Based on the reviewed footage, deputies began searching for the suspected shooter, as well as a vehicle he was seen driving in the area of the previous day’s shooting.

Deputies searching for the suspect and his vehicle spotted both about 3:45 p.m., at the intersection of Elsworth Street and Alessandro Boulevard in Moreno Valley, about one and one half miles from where the shooting happened.

“MVPD Officers stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, Jacob Gonzalez, age 23 of Hesperia,” said Stens.

Based on their investigation, deputies arrested Gonzalez and he was later booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony discharge of a firearm.

Officials have not specified the type or caliber of weapon discharged in the shooting and have not listed any known or suspected motive for the attack. Officials have also not specified if a suspected weapon has been recovered as part of their investigation.

An online jail record search revealed Gonzalez remains in custody, held on $1.1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside Hall of Just, Dec. 15

Anyone with additional information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Gore at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV173450303 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

ORIGINAL STORY: Officials searching for person they say shot at deputy’s patrol vehicle

MORENO VALLEY — Officials are investigating after an on-duty Moreno Valley PD patrol vehicle was struck by gunfire, Monday afternoon, Dec. 11. The shooting happened in the area of Cactus Avenue and Graham Street in Moreno Valley.

The on-duty official assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Police Station was traveling in Moreno Valley about 4 p.m., when they heard gunfire and discovered their patrol vehicle had been struck by a round fired “by an unknown person,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant William Stens explained after the shooting.

“The officer was not injured in this incident,” said Stens.

It was not immediately known if the official driving the patrol vehicle was a deputy, community service officer or other sheriff’s official.

The Moreno Valley Police Department has asked for the public’s assistance identifying the person or people who fired the round at the patrol vehicle.

Anyone who was in the area around the time of this incident and saw anything suspicious or related to this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Gore at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV173450303 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips 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.