UPDATE: Two more 91 Freeway BB gun shootings bring three day total to six victims
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 12, 11:30 a.m.
See Original Story below.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate a three day series of freeway BB gun shootings that have now left six victims with damaged vehicles, after their windows were shot out at various locations along the 91 Freeway.
The first shooting was reported Sunday May 9, while three additional shootings were reported the next morning. Those four shootings were followed by two more similar incidents yesterday afternoon and evening.
Although no injuries were reported after the six “unusual incidents”, numerous vehicle windows were shattered by what CHP Officer Juan Quintero has since said was believed to have been caused by someone firing a BB gun.
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As their investigation into the first four shootings was continuing, CHP yesterday received new reports of two more vehicles whose windows were shot out yesterday, Tuesday, May 11.
The fifth incident, which was reported at 5:51 p.m., happened on the eastbound SR-91, east of Lincoln Avenue; in the same general area as the previously reported incidents.
CHP determined the victim was driving a white GMC Safari van in the number four, eastbound lane of the freeway, just east of Lincoln Avenue, when the van’s middle left-side window was shattered.
“It was determined the weapon used was a pellet or BB gun based on the damage,” Quintero later said.
Just ten minutes later, another shooting occurred on the eastbound SR-91, east of Tyler Street, according to Quintero.
Investigating officers determined the sixth victim had been driving a white Jeep Wrangler eastbound on SR-91 when one of her windows was shot out.
“She reported hearing a pop, followed by window shattering,” Quintero described.
Officers confirmed one of the Jeep’s left side windows was shattered and that a BB or pellet gun appeared to have caused the damage.
No injuries were reported after the most recent two incidents and no injuries were reported after the earlier four incidents.
Although no suspect information was obtained in either of Monday’s shootings, Quintero had previously said that one of the earlier shooting victims reported seeing a white Acura near their vehicle when it was shot at. CHP has not confirmed that the reported white car was involved, but have said it is a vehicle of interest in their investigation, which is active and ongoing.
Any witnesses to any of the six shootings are encouraged to call the California Highway Patrol at (951) 637-8000. Callers can remain anonymous.
Original Story: CHP investigating after four vehicles windows shot out over two days on SR-91
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate several recent reports of windows being shot out at various locations along the SR-91 Freeway on Sunday and Monday, May 9 and 10.
Although no injuries were reported after the four incidents, numerous vehicle windows were shattered by what CHP Officer Juan Quintero has since said was believed to have been caused by someone firing a BB gun.
On Sunday, May 9, several CHP – Riverside officers responded to the In-N-Out restaurant on Madison Avenue and Indiana Street around 10:40 p.m., after a man reported that his vehicle had been shot at on the 91 Freeway.
The victim told officers he was driving a white Honda Civic eastbound on SR-91, in the number one lane between Van Buren Boulevard and Adams Street, when he suddenly heard his right rear window shatter.
“Seconds later, his right front window was also shattered,” Quintero described.
The victim, who was not injured, told officers that after realizing his vehicle was being shot at he sped up and exited the freeway at Madison Avenue.
Officers who investigated the incident located a tiny hole in the right rear window that appeared to have been caused by a BB or pellet gun.
“The victim advised he didn’t know if there was a car or anything next to him at the time and provided no suspect information or pre-incident indicators as to why it may have happened,” said Quintero.
That initial shooting was followed the next day by three similar incidents.
The following morning, Monday, May 10, at around 5 a.m., officers received another report of “shots fired”, with windows being shot out.
The victims later told officers they were traveling in a white Ford Transit vanpool westbound on SR-91 at Main Street in Corona when two of the vehicle’s windows were shattered.
“The vehicle sustained two punctured left-side windows and it was determined the weapon used was a pellet or bb gun,” said Quintero; who added that no suspect information was obtained.
Just minutes later, at around 5:18 a.m., a CHP Freeway Service Patrol official located a third victim in the center divider of the westbound SR-91, east of Main Street.
The victim told officers he was driving a white Ford F-150 in the entrance to the Fastrak when his right rear window was shattered.
“When CHP units arrived, it was determined the weapon used in this incident was a pellet or bb gun as well,” said Quintero; adding, “No injuries were reported, and no suspect information was provided by the victim.”
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Within minutes, at around 5:31 a.m., a fourth victim contacted CHP Dispatch from his home and reported he had been driving a black Ford Excursion westbound on SR-91 near Lincoln Avenue when his right rear window was shattered.
Officers quickly determined the weapon used was also a pellet or bb gun.
The victim told officers that a white sedan, possibly an Acura, was traveling to his right at the time of the incident, according to Quintero; who said CHP’s investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents or who has information regarding the shootings is encouraged to call the California Highway Patrol at (951) 637-8000. Callers can remain anonymous.
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 (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
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.