One dead, two hospitalized after Perris attack – one arrested

PERRIS — One woman is dead and two other people were hospitalized with traumatic injuries after a deadly incident that happened in Perris late Friday, Sept. 6. Some unconfirmed witness reports from the scene indicate at least one or more of the three victims were possibly stabbed and that the alleged suspect fled the scene before crashing at the intersection of Evans Rd. and E. Rider St.

The alleged suspect was arrested at Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley after the violent and fatal encounter, which happened at 33 Whirlaway St., according to jail records and officials investigating the murder.

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Deputies from the Perris Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the home around 11:30 p.m., after receiving reports of “multiple people being assaulted at the residence,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Espinoza, of the department’s Central Homicide Unit, reported after the incident.

When deputies arrived at the scene they found a woman “deceased from injuries sustained during the attack,” according to Espinoza; who said, “A second female and a male were also located at the residence suffering from traumatic injuries.”

Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their unspecified injuries.

Anthony Varela was arrested after officials determined he was responsible for murdering one woman and hospitalizing two other people during a violent attack in Perris. RSO booking photo

Deputies secured the scene and Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. They were assisted by Perris Station investigators, technicians from the department’s Forensic Service Unit, and other officials.

During the course of their investigation, officials identified the suspect as Anthony Michael Varela, 29, of Perris.

Officials remained at the scene of last Friday night’s deadly incident throughout the next morning and afternoon. Shane Gaustad/We Are Perris Valley photo

Based on their investigation, Varela was arrested and booked at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree attempted murder. Jail records indicate he remains in custody without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on his charges at Riverside’s Hall Of Justice tomorrow, Sept. 11.

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing and officials have released no further details at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Alfaro at (760) 393-3528 or (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number PE192490169 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, 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 or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; 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 29 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.