Hemet men arrested after deadly bar stabbing – “Additional arrests possible”
HEMET, Calif. — Authorities say two men have been arrested after a man’s lifeless body was discovered in the Carmalita Center parking lot across the street from Chappies, a bar near the intersection of Florida Avenue and Carmalita Street in Hemet, early Monday morning, Dec. 28.
Calling the victim’s fatal stabbing “a tragic and senseless crime” and saying, “Our condolences & thoughts go out to this grieving family,” Hemet Police officials have identified the man killed in the violent altercation as Andre Dyshawn Childress, a 31-year-old, San Jacinto resident.
Although Hemet Police Lieutenant Nate Miller last night said the “exact motives are not being released at this time.” He also said that based on video evidence which captured much of the “unfortunate and needless incident”, additional arrests are possible.
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Last Monday’s investigation began around 1 a.m., after a City of Hemet police officer was flagged down by a citizen reporting a man down in the area, Miller previously said of the ongoing investigation.
After locating Childress’s body medical aid was summoned; however, officials quickly determined he had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
While officers cordoned off the area and began interviewing potential witnesses, investigators were summoned to the scene and later assumed the investigation.
An officer searches for evidence near where Andre Childress’ body was discovered. His body was found directly across the street from Chappies bar, where a fight involving several men occurred within the intersection about 40 minutes earlier. John Strangis/EN Media-Hemet News photo
As officials were working at the scene, one woman could be heard screaming and crying inconsolably while another woman held and attempted to calm and comfort her.
“That was my baby! My God! No! No! No!” the pajama-clad woman could be heard screaming as the second woman tried walking her away from the scene where Childress’s body lay.
SEE ORIGINAL STORY: Officials seek witnesses, videos after Hemet murder
Early in their investigation, officers and detectives learned that a fight involving several patrons had taken place within the intersection just outside Chappies bar about 40 minutes earlier.
As their investigation continued throughout the morning and into the evening, detectives interviewed a number of witnesses at the scene and later located, reviewed and collected video footage from “several surveillance cameras of near-by businesses,” Miller explained.
“It is clear that several bar patrons exited the bar and made their way to the intersection of Carmalita Street and Florida Avenue,” Miller continued. “Once there, the suspects began attacking the victim.”
“During the attack, one of the suspects stabbed the victim,” Miller described; adding that Childress “collapsed and died near the intersection.”
Two men, Angel Melesio Sanchez, 32, and Ernesto Gonzales, 28, both of Hemet, have already been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old, Andre Dyshawn Childress, of San Jacinto. Regarding their ongoing investigation, officials have indicated that additional arrests are likely.
Based on information gathered from witnesses and nearby surveillance footage, officials quickly identified, located and arrested Angel Melesio Sanchez, 32, of Hemet.
Online jail records indicate Sanchez was arrested around 7 p.m., Dec. 29, and later booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
A second suspect, Ernesto Gonzales, a 28-year-old Hemet resident, turned himself into investigators around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, according to Miller.
Jail records indicate Gonzales was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder for his participation during the violent and fatal encounter.
Both men remain in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond.
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Asked about a possible motive or what led to the deadly incident, Miller explained, “Because this investigation is ongoing and additional interviews & arrests are possible, the exact details are being withheld at this time.”
Investigators are asking anyone who has dash-cam video from driving through the area or mobile phone video of an altercation that took place in the intersection between 12:15 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Monday morning (Sunday night) to contact Hemet Police Investigator Doug Klinzing at (951) 765-2400 or by email. Anonymous tips and videos are always accepted.
This continues to be a developing story that will be updated as new information is made available.
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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.