Dead Body of Gunman in Moreno Valley Shootout Found

Riverside County Sheriff's officials announced via Twitter Wednesday morning that the dead body of a gunman believed to be responsible for killing two people in Moreno Valley on Tuesday afternoon and wounding one sheriff's deputy was found in a remote area off Pigeon Pass Road. Sheriff's deputies and SWAT members searched the area known as Box Springs Mountain late Tuesday and into early Wednesday before discovering the body around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Police said early reports of multiple suspects were not confirmed; they had not identified the gunman but believed there were no other outstanding suspects, according to a second tweet posted by sheriff's officials Wednesday morning. It is unclear whether the suspect died as a result of a self-inflicted wound or that of sheriff's deputies, a release issued by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department stated. Police reports say an autopsy will determine the gunman's cause of death. Capt. Joel Ontiveros, who is also the Moreno Valley police chief, said during an afternoon press conference July 23 that the wounded deputy returned fire on the suspect, who was armed with a semiautomatic rifle and shot at him after the deputy attempted to question the subject Tuesday afternoon. The deputy sustained minor injuries and was treated at the Riverside County Regional Medical Center. Ontiveros said officers could not say whether the deputy had been wounded by a bullet or from the shattered glass of a vehicle window. Ontiveros confirmed Wednesday the deputy was recovering at home. Reports of two separate homicides Tuesday afternoon spawned a manhunt that lasted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The violence began just before 2:30 Tuesday afternoon when Moreno Valley police responded to a Shell gas station at Sunnymead Ranch Parkway and Old Lake on reports of a shooting, according to the release. Officers on scene were able to immediately confirm a homicide when they found a female victim, identified by family members at the scene as 74-year-old Wilma Patterson, slumped over in her SUV, the release said. She died presumably from a bullet to the head. Sheriff's deputies credited Moreno Valley's citywide camera system in assisting them with pursuing the suspect. "Officers spotted the suspect vehicle fleeing the area north on Pigeon Pass," according to the release. A motor officer in the area observed the suspect's abandoned vehicle. He called for backup after detecting an adult male walking north on Pigeon Pass near the vehicle. "Another Moreno Valley officer attempted to contact the suspect at which time the suspect opened fire on the officer with an assault rifle and an officer involved shooting occurred," the release said. Riverside County Sheriff's officials and Riverside Police Department SWAT teams responded after an officer down call was broadcast. Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday Moreno Valley police responded to a call on the 25000 block of Delphinium Avenue, approximately five miles away from where the shooting at the Shell gas station took place. Police reports indicate that responding officers discovered a deceased male inside the residence and confirmed he was the victim of a homicide. They believed his murder was connected to both the homicide at the Shell gas station and the wounded officer involved in the shooting. Officers from several law enforcement agencies taped off streets in the area north of Old Lake and Pigeon Pass and used Sandals Church near the Riverside and Grand Terrace borders Tuesday afternoon as a command post as the search for the gunman continued until his body was found. An assault rifle was also found nearby. Police believe this was the weapon used in the shootings. Investigation is ongoing. Those with information regarding this incident may contact Det. Peters of the Riverside Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777, or Det. Bishop of the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-486-6700.