A suspect has been charged concerning a 2020 fentanyl poisoning incident that resulted in the death of an unresponsive juvenile in San Jacinto. The Riverside Sheriff’s Office's Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit (ODIN) identified Hemet resident Julius Brown, 20, as the suspect responsible for the illicit fentanyl sale leading to the teenager's fatality. According to the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, Brown is currently in custody in Arizona for an unrelated case and will be extradited to face the murder charge in Riverside.
Following a comprehensive investigation initiated in September 2022, ODIN investigators put together a case that allowed the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to file charges against Brown for murder on September 3, as per the Riverside Sheriff’s Office. Previously, paramedics and deputies had responded to the Warwick Street scene on July 28, 2020, where they had performed lifesaving measures on the minor, but to no avail. The Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau determined that the teenager died as a result of fentanyl poisoning, highlighting the continued presence of dangerous illicit substances on the streets.
While Brown awaits transfer to Riverside, the investigation remains active. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office invites anyone with additional information to come forward and assist in their efforts to combat the tragedy of drug overdoses. "This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Hollingsworth at 951–654–2702," stated the Sheriff’s Office press release.
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