No injuries reported after Depot Deli shooting in Hemet

HEMET, Calif. — Authorities are investigating a shooting after gunfire erupted outside a Hemet business late Saturday evening, Dec. 26. No injuries have been reported after the shooting, which happened at Depot Deli on the 200 block of Florida Avenue, near Inez Street.

Last night’s shooting was not the first time gun violence has broken out at the location, with one of the most recent incidents ending the life of a 29-year-old man last November.

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Official radio traffic indicated that city of Hemet police officers were dispatched to the scene around 10:30 p.m., after receiving reports of multiple shots fired at the location.

911 callers reported hearing two gunshots, followed by multiple shots fired.

Hemet police officers who responded to reports of a shooting outside Depot Deli found about nine shell casings and interviewed several witnesses; however they were not able to locate a victim or the suspected gunman. Robert Carter & Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photo

Witnesses later reported seeing a Black male adult wearing a red hoodie standing outside a white car talking to someone before he opened fire, shooting at the occupant(s).

Witnesses also told investigating officers the car sped off heading westbound on Florida Avenue, while the gunman was last seen fleeing north on Inez Street.  

Although officers canvassed the area searching for either of the involved parties, they were not immediately able to locate either.  

During their subsequent investigation, officials cordoned off the area and searched for evidence of the shooting.  

They reportedly located and recovered nine spent shell casings in the parking lot outside the business.  

SEE RELATED: Officials investigating Hemet armed robbery

Although officials have not yet made any official connections, the suspect described in the shooting matched that of a man who reportedly robbed a man at gunpoint the prior evening.

Although the victim of that crime told officers he was robbed at gunpoint of his cell phone, two gold chains, an iPad and a backpack, the victim became uncooperative with officers, telling them he did not want their help.

Hemet PD’s investigation is continuing and officials have asked that anyone with information related to their ongoing investigation contact them at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.  


Click any image to open full-size gallery.  

Robert Carter & Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photos above, video below.


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Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.


Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.