Victim’s dog dead after car to car shooting in San Jacinto

December 18, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Authorities today are continuing to investigate a car to car shooting in San Jacinto that ended in the death of the victim’s pregnant dog early Thursday evening, Dec. 17.

Those familiar with the incident say the victim was alone inside his car with his three standard poodles, including seven-year-old “Precious”, when the shooting occurred near the intersection of Hewitt Street and Esplanade Avenue.

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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station responded to the area around 5:22 p.m., after receiving reports of a shooting that had just occurred, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Brad Farwell has since said of the violent and deadly encounter.

During their preliminary investigation deputies learned “an unknown suspect, driving an unknown vehicle, pulled up next to the victim, who was also driving a vehicle,” Farwell described.

Animal Control and sheriff officials are seen documenting and discussing last night’s shooting that left seven-year-old standard poodle “Precious” dead from a gunshot wound. Eddie George/Hemet News photo

“The suspect then fired multiple rounds into the victim’s vehicle,” the Sergeant continued; adding, “A canine in the back seat of the victim’s vehicle was struck by the gunfire and died from its injuries.”

After the shooting the terrified victim, who was reported from the scene to be a man in his mid-20s, drove to the area of Santa Fe Street and Esplanade Avenue where he sought help.

When deputies arrived they found Precious deceased in the back seat of the victim’s car.

The dog appeared to have died from at least one bullet wound.

“It appeared to us that the bullet that went through the back window striking Precious was meant for her owner,” RCNS affiliate reporter Eddie George of Hemet News reported from the scene.

“Precious gave her life by taking the bullet for her master,” George described; adding, “The driver was uninjured but was very shook up and hurt from losing his baby Precious.”

George also reported seeing no less than eight bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle; including in the car’s front windshield and back window, as well as in the back of the car and tail light.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing at least eight bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle and a forensic technician was seen photographing and documenting evidence of the shooting. Eddie George/Hemet News photo

Officials did not specify if there was a known motive for the shooting or what may have led to the fatal incident.

Animal Control officials later responded to the scene and took custody of the deceased dog and as Precious was being moved to an Animal Control vehicle the victim could be heard sobbing in the background; clearly distraught over the death of his dog.

A forensic technician from the department’s Forensic Services Bureau was later seen photographing and documenting bullet holes in the vehicle as well as other evidence of the shooting.

A GoFundMe account has been established by a friend of the victim, Jessica Rojas, who wrote, “Precious was … a sweet and beautiful happy dog that was very clingy to her human.”

“She was man’s best friend to the end,” Rojas continued; adding she is asking for help to get Precious cremated and to get the needed repairs to get the victim’s vehicle back on the road.

As of this report the account had raised a mere $40.

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Don Atkinson at the San Jacinto Sheriff Station by calling (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number I203520053 and can remain anonymous.

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(Warning: Some of the images below are graphic and disturbing.)

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.