Tragic Shooting Rocks Perris Community
Swift Investigation and Pursuit
According to The Press-Enterprise, early Sunday morning, a devastating shooting outside a Planet Fitness in Perris has deeply affected the local community. Around 12:16 a.m. a yet-to-be-identified individual was fatally shot in the gym’s parking lot. Emergency responders from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrived promptly but tragically the victim had already succumbed to their injuries upon their arrival.
Authorities swiftly launched an investigation which quickly pinpointed a suspect 46-year-old Ernesto Lopez Jr. of Moreno Valley. Within just thirty minutes of the shooting a sheriff’s helicopter located Lopez’s vehicle in Beaumont. Deputies attempted to stop him but Lopez fled sparking a dangerous high-speed chase that eventually concluded in Hemet around 1:00 a.m. Thankfully, the pursuit ended without further incidents and Lopez was apprehended without resistance.
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Community Support Urged in Perris Shooting Investigation
Ernesto Lopez Jr. faces charges of murder and evading arrest and is currently held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department seeks public assistance for any information pertinent to their investigation. Individuals with details about this tragic incident are encouraged to contact Investigator Denham at 951-955-2777. As the community grieves the loss of the victim authorities are diligently working to uncover the motives behind this tragic violence and provide solace to those impacted.