UPDATED: Two women found murdered inside SUV, Riverside man arrested after sister reported shootings

UPDATED: Thursday, May, 3, 9 p.m., With coroner’s release and additional information.

RIVERSIDE — A man who officials say shot and killed two young women inside an SUV was arrested early Wednesday morning, May 2, after the man’s sister called 911 to report the double-fatal shooting. The victims were shot and killed in the La Sierra Hills area of Riverside, just northeast of the intersection of Alhambra and Cypress Avenues, according to officials.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified 21-year-old, Gabriela “Gabby” Perez, of Hemet, and 20-year-old, Miranda Duran, of Riverside, earlier today as the women found shot to death inside the SUV. According to a coroner’s release, both victims were pronounced deceased at 1:11 a.m., after officials were directed to the crime scene and discovered the women’s bodies inside the SUV. Officials are still working to determine exactly when and why the victims were shot.

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Riverside PD officials arrested Daniel Garcia, 23, of Riverside on nearby Kings Ranch Road, just two tenths of a mile from where the victim’s bodies were later discovered.

Garcia, who lists himself on social media as residing in Avondale, Arizona, was later booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on two counts of murder.

Officials have not specified how or even if Garcia knew either of the victims, but Duran and Garcia’s Facebook profiles listed them as friends. The nature of their friendship has not yet been made public.

Riverside Police Officers were dispatched to a home on Kings Ranch Road shortly after midnight, when a woman called 911 and told emergency dispatchers her brother had just admitted to shooting two women, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback later explained.

When officers arrived, they contacted the 911 caller and her brother, later identified as Garcia. Officers “quickly detained” the alleged suspect, Railsback explained. Jail records indicate Garcia was detained and later arrested just nine minutes after the shootings were reported.

Officers discovered Garcia was in possession of a firearm when he was detained, according to Railsback. Officials have not specified if the handgun found in the alleged suspect’s possession was the same weapon he allegedly used when he fatally shot the two victims.

After detaining Garcia, “officers were directed to a parked vehicle nearby on Alhambra Avenue, just north of Cypress Avenue,” Railsback explained. “Inside, they discovered two female victims suffering from gunshot wounds.”

Railsback did not specify if Garcia or his sister led officers to the victims and has not yet advised how many times the two victims were each shot.

Officers found the light-colored Volkswagen Passat parked on the wrong side of Alhambra Ave., about 110′ from the intersection and about 200 feet from the front gates of Society of the Divine Word’s (SVD) Divine Word Retreat Center.

Both the SUV’s front windows were partially rolled down and one of the vehicle’s front, interior lights was on – revealing bright pink leopard skin seat covers and a fluffy, pink steering wheel cover. The women’s bodies could be seen slumped over within the SUV.

City of Riverside paramedics were summoned to the scene and pronounced both victims deceased, according to Railsback. The pair was pronounced dead exactly one hour after the call was initially dispatched.

After discovering the victims inside the SUV, officials cordoned off the area and crime scene tape was soon blocking a 400 yard section of Alhambra Ave. from Cypress Ave. The hilly area to the north of the shooting was also designated as part of the crime scene.

Detectives from RPD’s Robbery – Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the murder investigation and they were assisted by members of the Department’s Forensics Unit, as well as Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials.

Miranda Duran, 20, of Riverside and 21-year-old Hemet resident, Gabriela “Gabby” Perez, were both fatally shot while sitting inside an SUV parked on Alhambra Avenue in Riverside. Daniel Garcia, who knew at least one of the two women was arrested and later charged with the women’s murders.

During their initial investigation, officials determined Garcia “shot and killed both victims while they were inside their vehicle,” according to Railsback.

As the investigation continued on the cold and wet morning, officials huddled under a blue EZ-Up, comparing notes and discussing the ongoing investigation. The EZ-Up had been set up directly along the passenger’s side of the SUV, allowing officials to stay dry while protecting potential evidence from rain that began falling as the investigation was getting underway.

Hours later, as the sun was rising and rain was trying its hardest to cleanse the city of the psychological stain left by the women’s murders, officials remained busy at the scene; documenting, photographing, and collecting potential evidence in and around the SUV.

Well into the afternoon, officials were still going door-to-door along Alhambra Ave. and other nearby streets – searching for anyone who may have seen or heard the incident, or who might be able to shed light on why Garcia stole the lives of the two women.

One witness, an employee at a nearby adult care facility, later told Press Enterprise he first spotted the VW when it arrived at the location.

“I seen that car pull up around the corner around midnight or so,” the man reportedly said. “It came around pretty slow on that left side of the street.”

Saying he works at the facility by himself, the witness described the incident as “very shocking” and “scary.”

By the next day, a makeshift memorial of balloons, candles, crosses, flowers, and signs began to take shape near where the women’s bodies were found. Chalk messages –  written in blue, pink and yellow along the road – expressed grief at the loss of the two women. Notes such as RIP Miranda & Gabby, We love you girl, Rest In Peace, and Until we meet again, were among other personal messages conveyed to the victims.

According to family and friends Duran, who listed herself on social media as in a new relationship just over a month ago, was a mother of two young children. Officials have not specified who has taken custody of the victim’s little boy and infant girl.

Area resident Michelle Weinstock Gross was one of countless people who wished the two women and their families condolences after hearing about the tragedy.

According to Gross, Duran had been one of many area teens who last March attended Operation Prom Girl SoCal’s community outreach program and she described Duran as “such a beautiful soul.”

According to OPG’s website, the regular events – which include lunch, a dessert bar, and a “day of adventure,” for its invitees and participants, provides prom dresses, shoes, and accessories to high school students suffering from financial hardships or unusual circumstances.

It was not known if the young mother ever got to wear the dress and accessories she had been so excited to receive from the non-profit.

In a GoFundMe established by a sibling of Perez, the Riverside resident sadly explained, “My sister didn’t deserve to have her life taken away in such a disturbing way.” After the first day the fundraiser had raised $580 towards the page’s stated $7,000 goal.

An online jail record search indicated Garcia remains in protective custody at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall of Justice, May 4.

Riverside PD’s investigation is active and ongoing and Railsback explained the department had no further details to release at this time.

Anyone has information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Karla Corbett at (951) 353-7134 or by email, or Detective Mike Medici at (951) 353-7104 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number P18080191. Those wishing to remain anonymous can also submit a tip to RPD’s email.

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

 

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.