On Tuesday September 15, 2020, at 1:11 pm, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 12000 block of Matthews Rd. on the Morongo Reservation to a report of a non-tribal member firing a handgun and threatening residents at that location. Deputies arrived and spoke with a male victim who advised the suspect, Michael Leyvas, 33, of Banning had threatened to kill him and was possibly in the garage of his residence. Leyvas had fired a handgun multiple times and had shot at a female victim as she tried to flee in her vehicle. The victim was still in his residence with his children and was escorted out by members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau.
The female victim was contacted, and she advised Leyvas shot at her vehicle in an attempt to shoot her as she fled. She also advised Leyvas assaulted her a few days prior. Deputies also located several bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau surrounded the residence while hostage negotiators made contact with Leyvas by cellular phone. Leyvas refused to comply with directions to surrender to deputies and it was determined Leyvas was hiding in a modular trailer behind the residence. Several orders were given for Leyvas to come out before tear gas was deployed. Leyvas eventually surrendered to deputies. A search of the trailer was conducted and a handgun, consistent with the one the victim described in the assault, was located. Leyvas was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility.
The Cabazon Sheriff’s Station is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Investigators Mills or Hensley at (951) 922-7100.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
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