A tragic outbreak of violence in San Jacinto ended fatally for one individual yesterday morning. At approximately 7:05 a.m., deputies were called to the vicinity of West Seventh Street and South San Jacinto Street following reports of a male suspect firing at passing vehicles, a scenario that led to multiple vehicles being hit and two people suffering gunshot wounds, with one victim succumbing to their injuries despite receiving medical treatment, as reported by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
The site was promptly cordoned off, restricting access to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic while an investigation commenced with specialists from the San Jacinto Sheriff's Station, Central Homicide Unit, and the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau converging on the scene, and it is the Central Homicide Unit that has since taken charge of the ongoing case. Sadly, the deceased has been identified as Victor Hugo Leon, a 42-year-old San Jacinto local who's untimely death marks yet another loss to the hands of what presents as arbitrary violence.
In the aftermath of the incident, 39-year-old Julio Cesar Rodarte, also a San Jacinto resident, was arrested on suspicion of murder including ten counts of attempted murder and has been incarcerated at the Larry Smith Correctional Facility. Authorities have not signaled that they are searching for other suspects at this juncture.
As the community grapples with the weight of this event, officials are appealing for anyone with information that might shed light on these grievous circumstances to step forward and contact Investigator Scott of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955–2777 or Investigator Martinez from the San Jacinto Station at (951) 654–2702. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has not released further details, the investigation remains active and ongoing.
