Daniel Brandon Gonzalez, 23, of Perris was convicted in September of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of armed robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a loaded gun, in addition to sentence- enhancing gun-use allegations. The Banning jury acquitted him of attempted murder in connection with the March 2024 attack.

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Samuel Diaz imposed the required sentence for most counts, though court records indicated that he suspended terms on several others, which would have added an additional 20 to 30 years behind bars, effectively turning it into life with parole.

Gonzalez’s co-defendant, 24-year-old Ethan Michael Morris of Perris, pleaded guilty in 2024 to grand theft under a pretrial agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admission, prosecutors dropped two related charges against Morris. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Thompson, the pair confronted several people, whose identities were not disclosed, shortly after 8 p.m. on March 15, 2024, at a business in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, near Park Avenue.

During the encounter, Gonzalez pulled a handgun and demanded money from the victims, then shot at them but missed, authorities said. No one was injured.

The defendants immediately fled the location.

Detectives spent the ensuing days developing leads that ultimately pointed to Gonzalez and Morris as the robbers.

Morris was arrested a few days later after he was summoned to the sheriff’s Perris station for questioning.

A search warrant was served within a week at Gonzalez’s property in the 300 block of West Third Street, where “items of evidentiary value were located, along with three firearms,” Thompson said.

The defendant was arrested without incident.

Court records show Gonzalez had prior convictions for domestic violence and assault, while Morris had a prior for assault resulting in great bodily injury.

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The incident began shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in Loma Linda. The cell phone seller, whose name and age were not released, agreed to meet up with a potential buyer after the two connected via Facebook Marketplace.

The meeting was set for the 23000 block of Redlands Blvd.

When the victim arrived, he was approached by 20-year-old Gerardo Hernandez of Jurupa Valley and 21-year-old Manuel Corral of Ontario, according to the sheriff’s department.

Hernandez snatched the cell phone and refused to pay. Corral drew a black handgun and pointed it at the victim, the department reported.

“The victim feared for his life and fled for his safety,” the agency said.

The alleged robbers got into a Honda Civic and took off.

The incident was reported, and a notification was sent to nearby law enforcement agencies regarding the suspect vehicle.

About an hour after the alleged robbery, the Ontario Police Department stopped the Honda Civic.

Inside the car were Hernandez and Corral, along with Ontario resident Fabian Corral, 20, and 21-year-old Reymundo Hernandez of Jurupa Valley. It’s unclear whether the men are related.

“Officers located a loaded black handgun inside the vehicle along with the victim’s cellular telephone,” the sheriff’s department said.

All four suspects were booked into San Bernardino County jail on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy charges, both felonies.

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File # D233170070

Details:

On Monday, November 13, 2023, at 9:10 p.m., an armed robbery occurred near the 43300 block of Highway 74 in East Hemet. Employees told deputies a Hispanic male adult, 5’ 08” in height, wearing a distinctive face covering, entered the store and brandished a black handgun. The suspect demanded money from the cash registers. The employees complied with the suspect’s demands and gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect fled the store on foot after the robbery in an unknown direction. Investigators from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station assumed the investigation. Investigators identified the suspect as 50-year-old Musio Adam Villegas, a resident of East Hemet.

On November 17, 2023, investigators located Villegas and took him into custody. A search warrant was authored and served near the 41700 block of Crest Drive, East Hemet, where evidence related to the robbery was located and seized. Villegas was later booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center for robbery and committing a felony while armed with a firearm. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Lead Investigator Ruben Martinez at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station at (951) 791-3400.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File# PE233100136, PE233110048, PE233110121

Details:

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the Perris Station Robbery Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) began working a series of armed robberies that occurred at several restaurants in the Perris area between November 6 and November 7, 2023. Video surveillance revealed the same suspect committed all three armed robberies by brandishing a handgun and demanding money from the registers before fleeing in a white sedan. RBST was able to obtain a license plate of the suspect vehicle. On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, about 4:45 p.m., with the help of the Riverside Sheriff Aviation Unit, Perris deputies located the suspect vehicle driving near Rider Street and Carroll Street, in Mead Valley. A short pursuit was initiated, but the suspect eventually pulled over and surrendered.

The driver/suspect, Vicente Aranda, 47-year-old resident of Sun City, was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for several felonies. RBST served a search warrant on Aranda’s vehicle and located a handgun and other evidence that connected him to the robberies. This investigation is on-going.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call RBST Investigator Rooker at Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or the Perris Station at (951) 210–1000.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File: SW232710041

Details:

On September 28, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Southwest Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a business in the 34000 Block of Calle Arnaz in the unincorporated area of Temecula, reference an armed robbery. Upon arrival, deputies learned the suspect was waiting outside of the business as employees were closing the store for the evening. The suspect pointed a handgun at the employees and forced one of them back into the office to empty money from the safe. The suspect made threats toward the employees during the encounter and fled the location on foot prior to deputies’ arrival.

The victims were able to provide a description of the suspect and direction of travel. Responding deputies checked the area along with Sheriff’s Aviation; however, the suspect was not located.

The Southwest Station’s Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) assumed the investigation and began following all leads. RBST conducted an extensive canvass of the area during daytime hours and located evidence dropped on a nearby property. Through use of a Sheriff’s bloodhound, deputies were able to locate additional evidence dropped by the suspect. Utilizing investigative resources and evidence located, members of RBST positively identified the suspect as Irvin Banks, a 50-year old resident of Temecula. It was also learned Banks is on federal probation for robbery.

On October 26, 2023, Banks was located near the 44000 Block of Adam Lane, in the City of Temecula, where he was taken into custody without incident. RBST authored a search warrant for Banks’ vehicle and residence for additional evidence of the robbery. During the search, deputies located additional items of evidentiary value connecting Banks to the robbery.

Banks was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for kidnapping with the Intent to commit robbery, criminal threats, and assault with a deadly weapon, where he is being held on $1,000,000 bail. Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact Investigator J. Andrews of the Southwest Station RBST Team at (951) 696-3000.

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File # JV232960019

Details:

On Monday, October 23, 2023, at 07:15 a.m., deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a business in the 10000 block of Bellegrave Avenue, in the city of Jurupa Valley, regarding an armed robbery. The victim advised three unknown males brandished a handgun and took cash and tobacco products. The suspects fled the scene in a black Jeep. Jurupa Valley Station investigators responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. One of the suspects was identified and located at a residence in the 2700 Block of Eagle Creek Place in the city of Ontario. A short time later, deputies conducted a high-risk enforcement stop on the suspect vehicle as it left the residence, and the occupants were detained without incident. Investigators served a search warrant at the Eagle Creek Place residence and located two additional suspects. As a result of the search warrant, investigators recovered stolen cash, tobacco products, and four firearms.

Investigators arrested Tommy Rojas, an 18-year-old resident of Rancho Cucamonga, Umar Syed, a 19-year-old resident of Pomona, and a 17-year-old male juvenile for robbery, conspiracy, and weapons charges. Rojas and Syed were booked into Robert Presley Detention Center, and the juvenile was booked into Riverside Juvenile Hall. This investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Investigator Passalacqua at Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 955–2600. As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or 911 if the matter is an emergency. Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline, (909) 987–5005.

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File # MV232160026

Details:

On Friday, August 4, 2023, at 4:05 a.m., Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a business in the 24000 block of John F. Kennedy Drive in the city of Moreno Valley, reference an armed robbery. Upon arrival, deputies learned a suspect entered the business around 4 a.m., where he produced a firearm and demanded money from the cash register. The store employee complied, and after taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, the suspect fled the location eastbound on foot. No one was injured during the robbery. The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 20-30 years-old, 6’ tall, with an athletic build. He was wearing dark colored clothing, white shoes, with a hoodie pulled over his head and a black face mask covering his face. The suspect is still outstanding and considered armed and dangerous. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Deputy Keene at 951-486-6700.

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File # TE232060006

Details:

On July 25, 2023 at approximately 2:40 AM, Southwest Station deputies responded to a business in the 44500 Block of Bedford Court in the City of Temecula, reference an armed robbery and the report of someone being shot at the location. Upon arrival, deputies learned a white male adult entered the business and walked out shortly thereafter with stolen merchandise. A struggle ensued between the suspect and store employee who was attempting to get the stolen merchandise back. During the confrontation, it was reported the suspect pulled out a firearm and discharged it once. The suspect fled the location in a vehicle and was not immediately located. It was determined nobody was struck by the gunfire.

The Southwest Station’s Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) responded and assumed the investigation. Through investigative leads and use of video surveillance, members of RBST positively identified the suspect as Erik Kittmer, a 25-year-old resident of Temecula.

On July 27, 2023, Kittmer was located near the 44600 Block of Lorraine Drive in the City of Temecula, where he was taken into custody without incident. Southwest Station RBST authored a search warrant for Kittmer’s vehicle and residence for evidence of the robbery. Deputies located several items of evidence linking Kittmer to the robbery, including a black semi-automatic handgun.

Kittmer was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Jeffrey Andrews of the Southwest Station RBST Team at (951) 696-3000.

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File # MA231580045

Details:

On June 7, 2023, at 9:23 PM, Lake Mathews Station deputies were dispatched to an armed robbery in the 3800 block of McKinley Street, Home Gardens. A Hispanic male, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and blue face mask, entered the business armed with a handgun and demanded money from the register. The suspect fled the store and was seen entering a waiting black SUV. With the assistance of Riverside Police Department’s Air Unit (Air-1) the suspect vehicle was located in the area of Cajalco Expressway and Brown Steet in Mead Valley. Deputies assigned to the Perris Station conducted a vehicle stop and detained two juveniles, one armed with a handgun. Lake Mathews deputies were able to identify the two juveniles as being the suspects in the robbery and were arrested. Additional evidence at the scene was located possibly connecting both juvenile suspects with two other armed robberies that occurred at two businesses within the Riverside Police Department’s jurisdiction at the 3800 block of Pierce Street and 1100 block of University Avenue, in the city of Riverside.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Dorrough or Investigator Hardin at the Lake Mathews Station by calling 951-272-5600.

Anyone with information on the robberies that occurred at the 3800 block of Pierce Street and 1100 block of University Avenue, in the city of Riverside, is encouraged to call Riverside Police Detective Cruz at 951–353–7135.

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File # MV231580011 / MV231580015

Details:

On June 07, 2023, at 1:10 A.M., deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station responded to the report of an armed robbery in the 16000 block of Perris Blvd., in the City of Moreno Valley. A black male adult entered the business armed with a handgun and demanded money from the store clerk. The suspect fled the location on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a black male adult, wearing a white hoodie with navy blue shirt over it, a blue surgical mask, black pants, and white Croc type shoes. At 1:40 A.M., an additional armed robbery was reported in the 13000 block of Perris Blvd. The suspect was identified as the same suspect from the earlier armed robbery. There were no items successfully taken from the second armed robbery and the suspect fled the location northbound on foot. The suspect is still outstanding and considered armed and dangerous. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Estrada #5847 or Deputy Bermudez #6013 at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 486-6700.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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