One dead, one in custody after Moreno Valley shooting

April 2, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

MORENO VALLEY — Gun violence in Moreno Valley left one man dead and another in custody Tuesday evening, March 31.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
New Twentynine Palms Starbucks Drive-Thru sells for $3.1 million
Man air-lifted after crushed under Aguanga construction vehicle
One dead, one recovering after Moreno Valley shooting

Deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a Shell Gas Station on the 23500 block of Sunnymead Ranch Pkwy. just after 9 p.m., after receiving reports of a disturbance “involving multiple males and at least one subject armed with a firearm, ” Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez later reported.

While deputies were headed to the area, emergency dispatchers received reports that several vehicles fled eastbound at a high rate of speed.

“An additional call of shots fired in the area of Sunnymead Ranch Pkwy. and Perris Blvd. was also reported within minutes of the original call, and an additional report of a traffic collision was received,” explained Ramirez.

Deputies investigating the fatal shooting of a Moreno Valley man arrested 24-year-old, Moreno Valley resident, Jayvonte Wilkinson. RSO booking photo

When deputies arrived in the area they spotted one of the vehicles described as fleeing the scene of the shooting and conducted a traffic stop in the area of Heacock and Parkland avenues

During the traffic stop deputies detained two males, including Jayvonte Johnell Wilkinson, 24, of Moreno Valley.

While deputies detained the two men from the traffic stop other deputies responded to the scene of the reported accident at the intersection of Sunnymead Ranch Pkwy. and Hyachinth Ln., where they found a white Dodge Charger that had crashed into a wall at the intersection.

Inside the wrecked car, deputies found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and requested emergency medical personnel to the scene.

The victim, who has since been identified as Jared Lewis, 23, of Moreno Valley, was rushed to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

Deputies soon found evidence of a shooting and established a crime scene near the intersection, cordoning off the area yellow police tape.

Based on the circumstances members of the Sheriff’s Central Homicide unit responded to the scene to assist Moreno Valley Station’s Investigations Bureau and Special Enforcement Team deputies in the homicide investigation.

CHU investigators ultimately assumed the investigation, according to Ramirez.

During their investigation, officials identified Wilkinson as the alleged gunman and arrested him.

COVID-19 IN THE NEWS:
Third RivCo drive-up COVID-19 testing site opens
Death of 25-year-old shows COVID-19 can impact anyone
Doctor tests positive for COVID-19, patients potentially exposed
Supplies and volunteers needed to prepare for COVID-19 “surge”
RivCo orders motels and hotels to limit business to COVID-19 response

He was later transported to Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside where he was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder and murder with special circumstances.

Online Jail records indicate he was also booked on an outstanding arrest warrant for an earlier domestic violence related incident and other charges.

Wilkinson remains in custody without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall of Justice April 3.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to immediately call Investigator Pentel at the Moreno Valley Station at (951) 486-6700 or Central Homicide Unit Investigator Mendoza at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number MV200910306 and can remain anonymous.

This article sponsored by:

For more information, contact Bill Tyler at Century 21 Full Realty Service.

Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 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 16 grandchildren.