Man who murdered woman in front of officer fatally shot

CATHEDRAL CITY — A reported disturbance behind a Cathedral City business resulted in the deaths of two people and injury of an officer, early Sunday evening, Jan. 13. The deadly incident, which involved a Cathedral City police officer, happened to the rear of Big 5 Sporting Goods at 31033 Date Palm Dr., according to sheriff’s officials who are now investigating the fatal encounter.

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Yesterday’s deadly incident happened about 4:45 p.m., when a Cathedral City officer was dispatched to an unspecified disturbance behind the sporting goods store, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez explained after the shooting.

When the officer arrived at the scene he witnessed a male shoot a female in the parking lot, according to Ramirez. The suspect then immediately began shooting at the officer, “striking his police vehicle several times,” Cathedral City PD later reported.

The officer immediately returned fire engaging the suspect in a gun battle, while putting out an emergency request for priority assistance.

Witnesses later reported hearing more than a half-dozen gunshots, and during the ensuing shootout the suspect was struck and taken down by the officer’s gunfire.

Hearing the officer’s emergency radio call, officers and deputies from throughout the community converged on the scene and within minutes the area was flooded with officials, who arrived with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Officers immediately began medical aid for both the female victim and male suspect and emergency medical personnel soon arrived and continued medical aid. Despite life-saving measures, the female victim died at the scene.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to injuries he sustained during the shootout with the officer.

The involved officer was also injured during the gun battle, but his injuries were later described by his department as minor.

“The victim and suspect’s names will not be released at this time, pending the ongoing investigation and notification of next of kin,” said Ramirez.

A coroner’s release, which did not identify the victim or suspect or their ages, indicated the female victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene at 4:58 p.m. The male suspect was pronounced deceased about 45 minutes after the shooting, at 5:20 p.m

Based on the circumstances, Cathedral City PD requested Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and District Attorney’s Office respond to the scene and investigate the homicide and subsequent officer-involved shooting.

Citing their continuing investigation, officials have declined to release any further details about their ongoing and active investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Button at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer ro incident file number R190130001 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year 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 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.