During the course of this investigation, the shooting was determined to have occurred during a robbery. During the incident, one of the suspects was the deceased male, identified as Robert Valdez, 30-year-old of Riverside, who was shot by the victim.
On March 16, 2023, at about 11:32 p.m., deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station responded to a report of a shooting in the 12000 block of Clark St., Moreno Valley.
The fourth suspect involved in this case was identified as Manuel Rico, 37-year-old of Perris. On March, 13, 2023, at about 9:00 p.m., Rico was detained during a traffic stop in the unincorporated area of Perris.
Two additional suspects were identified in this case, as Enrique Rojas, 37 years of Murrieta, and Richard Smith 23 of Hemet. On March 10, 2023, at about 4:20 a.m., Rojas was arrested in front of his home in Murrieta.
During the course of this investigation, one of the suspects was identified as Jose Daniel Aguilar, 29 years of Orange. Aguilar was arrested on March 5, 2023, after a traffic stop in the city of Moreno Valley.
The Hemet Police Department cited 28 drivers Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in a distracted-driving operation from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Twelve citations were for hands-free cell phone violations and 16 for dangerous driving behaviors.
Reese Whitney, 21, of Hemet died Friday on McCall Park Road in Mountain Center, the Riverside County coroner said. CHP is investigating under Log No. 9655. Next of kin have been notified.
A Hemet man, Alex Mancia-Caceres, 54, died early Friday in a single-vehicle crash at Ramona Expressway and E Seventh Street in San Jacinto. Deputies responded at 2:24 a.m.; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause remains under investigation.