A man from Moreno Valley was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of killing another man in Perris and subsequently leading deputies on a high-speed chase.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at around 12:15 a.m. on the 1600 block of North Perris Boulevard. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
About half an hour later, at approximately 12:50 a.m., the suspect’s vehicle was located by a sheriff’s aviation unit in Beaumont. When deputies and Beaumont police officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect allegedly refused to comply, initiating a pursuit.
The chase continued into Hemet and concluded at the intersection of Florida and Acacia avenues. The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Ernesto Lopez Jr., was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of murder and felony evading, as stated by Sgt. Jarred Bishop.
The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Authorities confirmed that no additional suspects are outstanding in connection with this incident.