Accused La Quinta murderer dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound
LA QUINTA — Officials updated this morning that a man who allegedly shot two people – killing one – has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound he sustained at the end of a pursuit in Ontario.
The deadly shooting happened Thursday morning, Sept 13, on the 54-700 block of Avenida Vallejo and led to a pursuit when the fleeing man was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy, officials had previously stated. Rowan had reportedly been heading out of the desert on the westbound 10 Freeway.
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The alleged shooter, Stacy Rowan, 56, of La Quinta, had been hospitalized since last Thursday and succumbed to his injuries two days after the deadly shooting. He was pronounced deceased Saturday morning, Sept. 15, about 11:35 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Ben Ramirez explained today in an updated press release.
La Quinta resident, Stacy Rowan, who had been hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after officials allege he shot two people has died from his injury. RSO booking photo
The victim who died Thursday morning has been identified as Rowan’s brother-in-law, 72-year-old, La Quinta resident, Michael J. McGrath.
The other victim, reportedly an elderly female, who Rowan allegedly shot in the arm has not been publicly identified.
After the shooting, the woman reportedly fled from the residence and other area residents rushed to the aid of the heavily bleeding victim. Witnesses and good Samaritans later reported having helped the shooting victim while hiding near the entryway of another home.
Blood trails leading from away from the location of the shooting still remain at the scene, a testament and reminder to the fatal incident.
The La Quinta home where the shooting happened later caught fire, just as officials were beginning to investigate the fatal shooting.
Because Rowan had been arrested with an AK-47 assault rifle with banned magazines, as well as “materials consistent with explosives,” just two weeks before Thursday’s deadly incident, officials evacuated area residents while firefighters extinguished the residential blaze.
“(Rowan’s) cause of death will be determined after a Coroner’s post mortem examination,” Ramirez explained today. “This case remains open and is still under investigation.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Manjarrez of the Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3530. Callers can refer to incident file number LA182560012 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.