VALLE VISTA: Two riding moped, given as early Christmas present, shot at – passenger killed

VALLE VISTA — A person who witnesses described as a male between 16 and 23-years-old, was shot and killed while riding with another male on a moped scooter, Tuesday morning, Dec. 19. The fatal shooting happened on De Waide Avenue near Earle Court, north of E. Florida and west of Fairview Avenues, in the unincorporated community of Valle Vista.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, Hemet Fire Department and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the residential neighborhood about 10 a.m., after receiving reports of “two teens on a moped involved in a traffic collision.”

When officials arrived, they found several witnesses, area residents and a person described as a teenage male crowded around another male who was on the ground and unresponsive.

Witnesses at the scene later said the victim had been shot while riding as a passenger on the small moped, which could be seen laying on its side nearby.

Witnesses were attempting life-saving measures on the critically injured victim; however, the male – whose actual age has not yet been released – succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials have not released the victim’s name or any other details, pending further investigation and notification of his family.

Witnesses told investigators that the two males were riding the moped and had just turned onto De Waide Avenue from a small cul-de-sac when they “heard the sound of a pop” and saw the moped crash.

The driver of the scooter had already begun trying to render aid to the passenger when neighbors came out to help. Those who came to the aid of the two victims discovered the passenger appeared to have been shot.

Conflicting accounts from the chaotic scene indicated the victim had possibly been shot in the back or the chest; however, officials have not yet specified the nature, extent or cause of the victim’s fatal injuries.

Deputies, investigators and other officials from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hemet and San Jacinto Stations responded to conduct a preliminary investigation into the shooting.

After officials arrived, they cordoned off the street with crime scene tape and were observed turning residents and others away.

Sheriff’s Central Homicide investigators were later summoned to the scene and assumed the shooting investigation.

As the investigation was getting under way, Sheriff’s officials brought a mobile command center to the scene and officials were observed entering and exiting the trailer throughout the day.

Thomas Procop, who lives down the street from where the deadly shooting happened, said he had already spoken to the moped driver’s distraught father, who told him he had just given his son the motorized scooter three days earlier as an early Christmas present.

Describing what he had seen, Procop said, “The kids had come around the corner and the moment they turned the corner the kid on the back got hit (by gunfire).”

As the shooting victim began to fall off the moped after being hit by at least one gunshot, the driver of the moped lost control and the two wrecked in the roadway, according to Procop.

“Sadly, the kid on the back didn’t make it,” said Procop.

“It’s a sad thing. Very sad,” Procop continued. “My heart goes out to the families and I can definitely tell you they are going to need a lot of prayers.”

Another area resident, Darrell Criswell, said he was out walking his dog when he saw the moped rider attempting to help his friend.

“He was trying to get him revived, trying to keep him awake until help came,” Criswell explained. “That’s when everyone showed up and started helping.”

“They were doing stuff on him and he was just gurgling, like fluid on the lungs,” Criswell continued.

“He just died while they were trying to revive him,” said Criswell.

No arrests have been made at this time and officials are working to determine a motive and gather information about possible suspects.

Sheriff’s officials at the scene declined to comment about the incident, explaining that the active and ongoing investigation is in its very early stages.

During their investigation, officials called for the temporary closure of De Waide Avenue while they searched for, documented and collected evidence at the scene of the fatal shooting. The road was expected to remain closed to through-traffic for the remainder of the day.

It was not immediately known if area residents had been allowed to begin returning to their homes.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the deadly shooting is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s officials at (951) 776-1099. Callers can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Eddie George/Hemet News video

 

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.