One dead, one arrested after San Jacinto shooting
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Authorities say a shooting in a San Jacinto neighborhood led to the death of one man and arrest of another, early Thursday morning, July 23.
The deadly shooting happened on the 800 block of Camino Los Banos, between Shaver and Seventh streets, according to officials.
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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the scene at 3:35 a.m., after receiving reports of a shooting, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Thurm has since reported.
When deputies arrived they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound being attended to by his family.
Forensic technicians work with sheriff’s investigators while photographing a vehicle involved in Thursday’s deadly shooting. George Evans Jr./Hemet News photo
Deputies began assisting family members with life-saving measures and summoned paramedics to the scene, according to Thurm; who said that despite their efforts the victim succumbed to his injury and passed away at the scene.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the victim as 39-year-old, Gilbert Wah, of Hemet. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 3:45 a.m.
While deputies established a crime scene and began gathering details about the shooting, investigators from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and Hemet Station responded to the scene and ultimately assumed the investigation.
“During the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as 39-year-old, Melvin Mario James Landry, of San Jacinto,” according to Thurm; who said, “Landry eventually returned to the scene and surrendered to deputies.”
Based on their investigation, officials arrested Landry and transported him to Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta where he was booked on suspicion of first degree murder.
Online jail records indicate Landry remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.
Although investigators have not determined a motive or know what led to the deadly encounter, Thurm said there are no other outstanding suspects being sought in the shooting and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Gonzalez at (951) 955-2777, or Hemet Station Investigator Rhodes at (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number I202050009 and can remain anonymous.
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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.