Staff Reports

Eastvale– In the last month, there were several crime incidents in Eastvale, Norco, and Jurupa Valley. The information below is courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Incident: Deputy-Involved Shooting

Date: February 8, 2024

Location: Norco

Details: On Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 6:02 p.m., deputies from the Norco Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of Hamner Avenue and 6th Street, Norco, regarding a subject armed with a knife. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the subject and gave commands to drop the knife. The suspect failed to follow commands and advanced towards the deputies with the knife, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was struck by gunfire, and deputies rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived. The suspect was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene. No deputies were injured during this incident. The identity of the suspect is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The involved deputy will be placed on paid administrative leave according to Department policy. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details will be released at this time.

Investigators from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol assigned to the Riverside Sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail will lead this investigation. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact California Highway Patrol Investigator Steven Cuevas or Riverside County Sheriff’s Master Investigator Dan Moody at 951-955-2777.
Incident: Stolen Vehicle

Date: January 31, 2024

Location: Eastvale

Details: According to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Department Facebook, “the Eastvale SET Team found a stolen vehicle in the Target parking lot. As soon as the suspects saw the units, multiple suspects fled the vehicle. All suspects were immediately caught. Two arrests were made and a vehicle was returned to its rightful owner.”

Incident: Homicide

Date: Update on January 4, 2024

Location: Jurupa Valley

Details: The updates below were provided for an incident that occurred in September 2023.

Update:

During the course of this investigation, a suspect was identified as Justin Vanderford, 41 years of Jurupa Valley. On January 4, 2024, Vanderford was detained by deputies from the Jurupa Valley Special Enforcement Team, near the intersection of Lakeview Street and Pedley Road Vanderford was arrested for murder, and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Update:

The victim in this case was identified as Oscar Aguilar, 52 years of Riverside. The investigation is currently on-going and no further information will be released at this time.

Original Details:

On September 27, 2023, at about 10:52 a.m., deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a report of a deceased male in the Santa Ana Riverbed south of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street, in Jurupa Valley. Upon arrival, deputies were directed to a male victim with gunshot wounds. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The area was secured as a crime scene and station investigators responded to begin the investigation. The Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

The identity of the victim will not be released, pending next of kin notification. The investigation is currently on-going and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Miller at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951–955–2600 or Investigator Anderson with the Central Homicide Unit at 951–955–2777.

Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.