Last Updated on October 8, 2019 by CCAR Staff
An argument between a man and a tow truck driver turned fatal in Riverside on Monday afternoon, Oct. 7, police said.
Officers responded to an area near the intersection of Bandini and Magnolia avenues at around 1:10 p.m. after getting calls about a shooting. On arrival, they found a man with gunshot wounds.
Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene, according to Riverside police spokesman Ryan Railsback.
The suspect, 32-year-old Javier Martinez of Landers, fled on foot but was taken into custody about 15 minutes after the incident and several blocks away, Riverside police spokesman Ryan Railsback said Tuesday in a news release.
Martinez was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder and was being held without bail, according to police.
“From what we understand, there was some sort of altercation,” Railsback said. “The suspect called for a tow service. At some point the suspect’s vehicle was on the tow truck and the suspect became argumentative.”
That argument turned physical, and resulted in the suspect shooting the tow truck driver, authorities said.
Bandini Avenue was closed east of Magnolia Avenue almost to Riverside Avenue, but police said any residents could get through to their homes. Two schools nearby were also temporarily placed on lockdown.
The victim’s identity was not available, pending notification of family members.
Staff writer Emily Rasmussen contributed to this report.
