Pistol-whipped & shot in back, San Jacinto man in critical condition
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Authorities say a man is in critical condition after being pistol whipped and shot in the back in San Jacinto late Tuesday evening, May 12. The shooting, which led to the arrest of a San Jacinto resident, happened on the 800 Block of Minor St.
Last Tuesday’s shooting was the second San Jacinto shooting to happen on the same day, after a Colorado Springs couple fired at a residence they were visiting, when the pair got into a fight with the people living at the home.
The two shootings happened on opposite ends of the city, about four miles apart; and the separate incidents were not believed to be related.
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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the neighborhood around 11:15 p.m., after receiving reports of a man suffering from a gunshot wound, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. James Burton has since reported.
The victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he is currently listed in critical condition, according to the Sgt.
San Jacinto resident Fernando Garcia was arrested after allegedly pistol-whipping a man before shooting him in the back last Tuesday night. RSO booking photo
During their subsequent investigation deputies learned 37-year-old, San Jacinto resident, Fernando Garcia, had become involved in an argument with the victim.
As the argument escalated Garcia attacked the victim, pulling out a gun and striking the man in the head, according to Burton; who said Garcia then shot the victim in the back.
After the shooting, Garcia fled the scene in his vehicle according to Burton; who did not specify the nature of the argument or how the two men knew each other.
The victim has not been publicly identified.
SEE RELATED: SWAT standoff follows San Jacinto shooting – CO couple arrested
As the investigation continued the next day, members of the District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team teamed up with sheriff’s investigators and deputies to locate and arrest Garcia. He was ultimately taken into custody around 2:30 p.m.
After his arrest, Garcia was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder. He remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center May 15.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Martinez at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at (951) 766-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number I201330096 and can remain anonymous. Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline, (909) 987-5005 or wetip.com.
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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.