Reports of shots fired lead to two arrests

SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Reports of shots fired at a woman in San Jacinto led to the arrest of two men late Thursday evening, June 11.

Although the originally reported victim was never located, after spotting a vehicle seen speeding away from the area and detaining the car’s occupants, deputies found the pair was in possession of a loaded handgun.

Deputies also found a bullet inside the car that matched several spent shell casings that were later found at the scene of the shooting; which happened in the area of Ramona Blvd. and N. Wateka St.

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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station responded to the area at 10:42 p.m., after receiving a call reporting shots fired, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Julio Olguin later said of the shooting and arrest.

The 911 caller told emergency dispatchers that the occupants of a silver Honda Civic had shot at a white female adult and was last seen speeding away from the area.

Although deputies were unable to locate anyone in the area they located three 9mm shell casings on the 100 block of N. Wateka St. 

Lee Williams, of Hemet and Rodney Jeter, of San Jacinto were arrested after deputies stopped them while investigating reports of a shooting in San Jacinto. RSO booking photos

While deputies continued to canvass the surrounding area for the vehicle seen leaving the area, they spotted a silver Honda Civic being driven northbound on Ramona Blvd.

“Deputies tried to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle did not immediately yield,” explained Olguin; who did not specify if deputies pursued the vehicle or how the occupants were eventually stopped and detained.

“The driver, a 30-year-old, Hemet resident, later identified as Lee Arthur Williams was determined to be under the influence of Drugs and Alcohol. The front passenger, 29-year-old San Jacinto resident, Rodney Eugene Jeter was on active Post Release Community Supervision for a weapons violation,” said Olguin.

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While searching the Honda, deputies found one 9mm bullet in the center console and also located a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine under the driver’s seat, according to Olguin; who reported that both men were arrested without further incident and booked at Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Online jail records indicate Jeter was booked into jail on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of an unregistered firearm, and violation of the terms of his PRCS probation. He remains in custody without bail, pending a revocation hearing.

Records also indicate Williams was booked on suspicion of DUI, negligent discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of an unregistered firearm, and being a felon with a firearm. He was released within hours of his arrest after posting $10,000 bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court Oct. 21.

While investigating reports of a shooting involving a silver Honda, deputies stopped and detained two area men who were seen leaving the area in a matching vehicle. The men were found to be in possession of a loaded handgun with bullets that matched shell casings found at the scene of the shooting. RSO photo

Area hospitals were notified and a Redi-Net was established for any possible victims, none of whom have been identified or located.

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation can contact Deputy Crabbe at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I201630090 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.