BANNING: One dead, one critical, after three shot on Morongo Indian Reservation
BANNING — Officials are investigating after one person was killed and two others were injured – one critically – when the trio were shot on the Morongo Indian Reservation in Banning, late Wednesday evening, Jan. 10. Deputies later arrested a man they say was responsible for the fatal shooting, which happened in the area of Ramon and Chino Roads.
Officials arrested Adrien Sotomayor after he allegedly shot three men, killing one. RSO booking photo
After an investigation officials arrested 31-year-old, Adrien Joseph Sotomayor, and he was booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of committing murder with malice, two counts of attempted murder with malice, two counts of discharging a weapon resulting in great bodily injury, felony discharging of a firearm, making terrorist threats and recklessly evading police.
It was not immediately known if all Sotomayor’s charges were related to Wednesday’s shooting as officials provided no information related to the threats or evading charges he was booked into jail on.
Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Cabazon Station and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the reservation about 11 p.m., after receiving reports of the shooting, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Brosche explained in a written press release.
When they arrived, deputies and medical personnel found three men suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, later identified as Gilbert Trevino, 55, of Beaumont, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cal Fire/Riverside County paramedics stabilized the remaining two victims before AMR medics rushed the pair to an area hospital. One of the victims remains in critical condition and the third was later released with minor injuries, according to Brosche.
Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Cabazon Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.
During their subsequent investigation officials identified Sotomayor as the person they say was responsible for the fatal shooting and investigators arrested him.
As the investigation continued, members of the media attempting to enter the reservation were not allowed entrance by tribal members, who turned reporters away at the front gates after citing their sovereignty and advising that tribal land was off-limits to the general public.
After Sotomayor’s arrest, Brosche said, “Neither the suspect nor the victims are tribal members or residents of Morongo,” and he thanked the Morongo Band of Mission Indians “for their support and cooperation during the incident.”
Officials have not released if there is a known motive for the deadly shooting and because of their ongoing investigation no further information was released.
An online jail record search revealed Sotomayor remains in custody and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court, Jan 16.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Trudeau with the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Lane with Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100. Callers can refer to incident file number MG180100010 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
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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.