RIVERSIDE: Shooting victim in grave condition after speeding car hits truck, overturns

RIVERSIDE — Officials are investigating a shooting after a man was found in critical condition, trapped inside an overturned car, Saturday evening, Apr. 21. The overturned vehicle was found in the area of Fern Avenue, between Madison and Grace Streets, in Riverside’s Casa Blanca neighborhood.

Riverside Police and Fire officials along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene about 8:13 p.m., after receiving reports of a “possible traffic collision with an overturned vehicle and subject trapped inside,” Riverside PD explained in a social media release about the shooting.

“At about the same time, the City of Riverside’s Emergency Dispatch Center also received several calls of shots fired at this location,” said officials.

When officials arrived they located a heavily damaged sedan, upside own on its roof. Officials also found an older Ford pickup truck with heavy rear-end damage. When they checked the sedan, officials discovered a Hispanic male adult suffering at least one gunshot wound inside the vehicle.

While firefighter/paramedics evaluated and treated the victim, officers began investigating the shooting. The victim was eventually transported to an area hospital and was listed in grave condition.

Evidence at the scene indicated the sedan had been traveling at high-speed on Fern Ave., when it plowed into the left-rear corner of the pickup, causing the sedan to overturn onto its roof. It was not immediately known how fast the vehicle was traveling when it struck the pickup and rolled, but the speed limit on the residential street is 25 mph.

Detectives from RPD’s Robbery – Homicide Unit and Gang Intelligence Unit, along with technicians from the department’s Forensics Unit, responded and assumed the investigation

Many area residents stood watching in quiet shock as the crime scene and investigation unfolded around them. Some stood in small groups and were seen holding each other and at least two were crying.

Officers could been seen poring over the crime scene and scouring the entire street for evidence related to the shooting. Several evidence markers soon were seen along portions of Fern Avenue.

Officials are still working to determine what might have led up to the shooting and their investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jim Brandt at (951) 353-7137 or by email, or Detective Mike Medici at (951) 353-7104 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number P1807330 and can remain anonymous. Tips can also be anonymously at RPDTips.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and 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.