Neighborhood apps consistently report hearing what sounds like gunshots and asking if anyone knows of a crime scene. Residents question if the shots ringing out could be fireworks, and although illegal in the city, a sense of relief is felt when fireworks are determined. However, the unknown is always a reason for uneasiness, instills fear, and leaves residents wondering if it is safe to go outside their homes. Fireworks are often heard in Moreno Valley; however, the sound resembling gunshots across the city has recently been just that. In several cases of recent, these gunshots resulted in homicides, serious injuries, robberies, and mass shootings.
Deputies from the Riverside Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station responded to an armed robbery at the Perris Boulevard and Filaree Avenue intersection. Armed with a handgun, the suspect approached the victim while walking from a convenience store and demanded his property. The suspect fled the area in a Silver Chevrolet Malibu, occupied by a female passenger on Perris Boulevard towards Gentian Avenue. The victim was not injured. Deputies are actively investigating the Robbery; no additional information is available now.
Today, April 3, 2023, a 35-year-old Las Vegas woman who is five months pregnant was driving away from her boyfriend after an argument, and he shot at her vehicle. The incident was reported to occur on Manzanita Avenue and Shagbark Road in Moreno Valley. The victim was later injured, and the suspect was found at the scene with the firearm and shell casings. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, a parole violation, and other firearm-related charges.
On Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 8:00 pm, Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station deputies responded to an armed robbery at a business in the 25000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard in the city of Moreno Valley. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the suspect entered the business, brandished a firearm, and demanded money before fleeing in a vehicle in an unknown direction with an additional suspect. At about 8:14 pm, deputies located the suspect vehicle in the 2000 block of Alessandro Boulevard in Riverside: deputies located both suspects, a replica firearm, and the stolen property. Christian Garibay (28 years old from Baldwin Park) and Rayanne Zertuche (29 years old from Hesperia) were positively identified as the suspects. They were later booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for Armed Robbery and Conspiracy.
A mass shooting occurred yesterday, April 2, 2023, in the 24700 block of Sunnymead Boulevard. Officers were initially dispatched to an “unknown” trouble call that quickly became “shots heard” as dispatch communicated with officers. Deputies heard several shots being fired and numerous individuals fleeing the area, both on foot and in vehicles, while locating four victims of gunshot wounds, two adults, and two juveniles.
On March 30, 2023, at about 2:36 pm, the Riverside Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station deputies responded to an armed robbery at the 12500 block of Heacock Street. Armed with a handgun, a suspect approached the victim as he was seated in front of a retail store and demanded his property. During the Robbery, the suspect threw a beer can at the victim’s face, causing a minor injury. The victim declined medical attention at the scene. Deputies located the suspect, 29-year-old Raymond Castillo, who will be booked for attempted Robbery, brandishing a firearm, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The above information is sourced from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department – Press Releases.
In addition to the above, in March 2023, an Armed Robbery at a local business, Armed Robbery Assault with a deadly weapon-Firearm, was also reported. As stated above, neighborhood apps consistently post about hearing gunshots throughout the city, later to find out the sounds were gunshots as violence by firearm inclines throughout Moreno Valley. While researching comments on many of these posts, the rise in violence by firearm has left many residents on high alert, fearful, and wondering how safe it truly is to take a walk to a convenience store or even walk your dog at dusk. One resident stated: “This is getting worse all over this city. We constantly read about someone being shot, gunshots being heard, and other serious crimes throughout the community.”
Many residents were unaware of situations without the neighborhood apps until they read the news and thanked the neighbor who posted the violence.
“It seems like no one has regard for another life anymore. They just take out their gun and shoot like it’s nothing.” Comments such as these can be found on every post regarding shootings in Mo Val, leaving residents on high alert, vigilant, and unfortunately fearful to live their daily lives comfortably, as is their right. For the media, it is challenging to report yet another shooting in our city, the growing crime, and the lack of remorse that seems to be an ongoing issue and is on the rise.
However, it is not just our community; this problem is a growing problem in almost every city and state. Residents of Moreno Valley, we have a strong community; it is our job as neighbors to keep one another aware and an eye out for one another. As the neighborhood apps do, “See something, Say something” applies; we cannot live our lives in fear. And gun control is not the answer; in Moreno Valley, anyone can get a gun on the black market anytime. So be aware of your surroundings, do not be of the mindset that nothing will ever happen to me in your hometown, remember we live in a sometimes-chaotic society, and download a neighborhood app to see what is going on in your zip code.
Download the Newsbreak, register, and follow me for trending, nationwide, and local news. And find something positive every single day. For example, if your dog wants to walk, find a safe time to walk your canine buddy, and keep informed of what’s happening in the community.
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