Two 19-year-olds have been arrested following a robbery and fatal shooting in Jurupa Valley, Riverside County.
On July 14, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded shortly after midnight to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon near Golden West Avenue and Condor Drive. There, they found 21-year-old Jose Martinez-Contreras suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries six days later.
The suspects had fled before deputies arrived. Following an investigation, authorities identified Lorenzo Howse Jr., 19, of Bloomington, as a suspect. He was arrested on July 18 during a search warrant operation and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder.
Detectives later discovered that Martinez-Contreras had also been the victim of an armed robbery prior to the shooting. A second suspect, Darnell White, 19, of Jurupa Valley, was identified. He was arrested at his residence on July 20 and charged with murder and robbery.
Authorities have not released details about a possible motive or whether the victim knew the suspects. The investigation remains ongoing.
