Pair of Independence Day freeway shootings in Riverside leaves two victims injured
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Authorities say two victims were shot under similar circumstances by the driver of another vehicle in Riverside on Independence Day. The pair of July 4th shootings, the first of which happened on the westbound SR-91 at the Central Avenue offramp and second that occurred on the westbound SR-60, west of Day street, sent both victims to the hospital with what were believed to be non life-threatening gunshot injuries.
Although it was not immediately known if the shootings were perpetrated by the same subject, In both cases it was believed the unknown and as-yet unidentified gunman fired at least five rounds at the targeted vehicles. The vehicle or vehicles used in the shootings were described as a newer, silver or blue sedan, possibly driven by a black male adult.
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California Highway Patrol and City of Riverside police officers were alerted to the first shooting around 2:53 p.m. after CHP’s Inland Communications Center received a call from a victim, CHP Officer Juan Quintero reported within the last hour. The victim told emergency dispatchers that he had driven to his Riverside home after being shot while traveling on the westbound SR-91, at the Central Ave offramp.
When officials arrived they found a burgundy Dodge Journey and a driver who was suffering from a single gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment of his injury. He is expected to make a full recovery, according to Quintero.
City of Riverside police officers are seen discussing a freeway shooting that sent a driver to the hospital on the 4th of July. It was the first of two similar shootings to occur in Riverside on Independence Day, according to California Highway Patrol. Johnny Lopez/Lone Wolf Media-OnScene TV photo
Officers who investigated the shooting learned that the suspect was last seen fleeing the area, continuing northbound on Central Avenue after the shooting.
“The victim described the suspect as a black male adult, driving a newer silver four door sedan,” Quintero explained; adding that the victim could not describe the weapon other than to say it was a handgun.
“The initial investigation revealed at least five rounds were fired at the victim’s vehicle, with one of the rounds striking the victim,” said Quintero.
Several hours later, at around 7:50 p.m., CHP Riverside units were alerted to a second freeway shooting involving a grey Volkswagen Jetta that had run off the road on the westbound SR-60, west of Day street, after a passenger inside the vehicle was shot.
“While in route, CHP Riverside units were advised the involved parties were leaving the scene in another vehicle,” Quintero explained; adding that the victim showed up at Riverside Community Hospital about ten minutes later with multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigating officers found the victim’s unoccupied vehicle up the embankment along the left shoulder of SR-60 westbound, at the I-215 northbound split. Officers discovered that like the first vehicle, the Volkswagen had five bullet holes that were found on the right-side doors. Evidence at the scene indicated that one of the fired rounds passed through the passenger compartment before exiting through the driver’s side passenger door. Officers also found fresh blood on the passenger seat and passenger’s side of the car.
Officers discovered a Volkswagen Jetta had been shot at least five times, with one of the bullets traveling through and exiting the opposite side of the sedan. Johnny Lopez/Lone Wolf Media-OnScene TV photo
The victim, who was determined to be the passenger in the Volkswagen, later told officers that a blue colored sedan pulled up next to their vehicle and began shooting. The victim could not explain why the shooting occurred, but the driver told officers that “some sort of road rage situation” may have occurred just before the shooting.
Contacted for more information regarding whether the two shootings were possibly related, Quintero was not immediately available for contact and had not returned a phone call as of this report.
CHP’s investigation is active and ongoing and anyone with information regarding these shootings is encouraged to contact CHP Officer M. Johs or Officer C. Strautman at CHP – Riverside at (951) 637-8000. Callers can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery, 50, 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.