Officials investigating Homeland homicide

HOMELAND — There are more questions than answers for area residents after a man was killed in the rural, unincorporated community of Homeland early Monday morning, Mar. 4. According to officials, the deadly shooting happened at an unspecified location in the 25000 block of Cortrite Ave., between Hwy 74 and Dagmar Ln.

Although sheriff’s officials have said the incident is being investigated as a homicide and that all involved parties have been interviewed, no arrests have been made. Yet Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche said today, “There are no outstanding suspects, and no threat to public safety.”

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What Brosche did say was that deputies assigned to the Perris Station were dispatched to a reported shooting about 6:30 a.m.

“When deputies arrived, they located a deceased male suffering from a gunshot wound,” Brosche explained.

Brosche identified the deceased male as Derek Andrew Valdepena, a 35-year-old, San Bernardino resident.

Investigators from Perris Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

“Investigators have interviewed individuals who were present during the shooting and no arrest have been made,” said Brosche, who advised the sheriff’s investigation is active and ongoing.

As of this report, a request for additional details or further information had not yet been responded to.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Investigator Stoyer of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number PC190630010 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.