UPDATE: Hunt for masked gunman who shot off-duty Los Angeles County deputy in San Jacinto continuing

December 9, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Thursday, Dec. 10, 8 a.m., With additional details from LASO Sheriff Alex Villanueva

Originally Published Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m.

SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Authorities today are continuing to investigate the overnight shooting of an off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who was shot while sitting in his car at a San Jacinto intersection early this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Early reports, which have since been confirmed by the Riverside County and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments, indicate the deputy was struck by the gunfire and hospitalized after the apparently un-provoked shooting, which occurred at the intersection of Cawston and Cottonwood avenues, adjacent Megan Cope Elementary School.

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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, along with CHP, Cal Fire-Riverside, and AMR were dispatched to reports of a shooting that had just occurred around 2:52 a.m., Riverside County Sheriff’s Sergeant Deanna Pecoraro confirmed to RCNS this morning.

“Once on scene, deputies located a male suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound,” Pecoraro described; adding, “The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.”

Deputies are seen inspecting the victim’s car after the man came under fire from a masked gunman in San Jacinto early this morning. Eddie George/Hemet News photo

Witnesses and official radio traffic at the time indicate that the victim, who has since been confirmed to be an off-duty LASO deputy, was sitting in his car on the 2300 block of Cawston Avenue at the intersection of Cottonwood Avenue when an unknown subject walked up to his car and opened fire.

The deputy’s vehicle was struck several times and the injured man sped away from the area; racing about a half-mile to a nearby Shell gas station at Sanderson and Cottonwood avenues where he called 911 and reported the shooting.

Responding officials found the injured deputy and his vehicle, a white convertible Corvette parked in front of the gas station.

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Officials immediately set up a large perimeter and began searching for the gunman, who fled on foot in an unknown direction of travel. The suspect was described as wearing a black and white shirt and blue jeans, along with a black and white ski mask.

The injured deputy was transported to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley with what was described by RCNS affiliate reporter Eddie George of Hemet News as a possible gunshot wound to the back. His current condition was unknown as of this report.

Deputies located numerous shell casings in the street where this morning’s shooting occurred. Eddie George/Hemet News photo

While officials worked at the two crime scenes, they located multiple shell casings on the ground near the intersection where the shooting occurred. They also found the deputy’s vehicle had been struck by several rounds fired by the masked gunman.

As their investigation was continuing, a deputy at the scene was heard telling other deputies that the victim was sitting in his car on Cawston Avenue facing northbound toward Cottonwood Avenue “when he saw some dude walking up in a ski mask” just before the suspect pulled out a gun “and began shooting at him.”

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Los Angles County Sheriff Alex Villaneuva has since confirmed that the victim shot during the incident was one of his deputies.

In a Facebook Live press conference, Villaneuva said he had been in communication with Riverside County Sheriff’s officials about the shooting and ongoing investigation.

“I’ve been in contact with Sheriff Chad Bianco and we’re assisting in any way we can,” Villanueva said; adding, “Thankfully it’s not a life-threatening injury.”

No suspect information was available at the time of this report and Pecoraro said the sheriff’s investigation is active and ongoing.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Eddie George/Hemet News photos above, video below.

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.