Booking Photos of Suspects in West Beaumont Fatal Shooting Released

Booking photos were released Wednesday of three people suspected in the fatal shooting of a 49-year-old Downey man near Potrero Road in west Beaumont.

The shooting occurred about 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of Oak Valley Parkway and Potrero Road, where the new bridge spans San Timoteo Creek wash, according to Riverside County coroner's and sheriff's accounts.

A Beaumont police officer "saw suspicious activity between two vehicles" and stopped a white Nissan Maxima that was leaving, according to the sheriff's department.

More police arrived and they found the body of a Latino man in the driver's seat of the other vehicle, which was parked, according to the sheriff's department. He had been shot more than once and he was pronounced dead at 11:48 p.m. Saturday, according to coroner's and sheriff's accounts.

The three people in the Nissan were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were identified as Ernesto Garcia-Vega, 32, of Compton, Israel Benitez-Mariscal, 33, of Paramount, and Maria Ayon, 31, of Downey, according to the sheriff's department.

The name of the deceased, 49-year-old Downey man was withheld pending next of kin notification.

Wednesday morning, volunteers from communities including Beaumont, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Menifee and Jurupa, along with horseback and mountain rescue teams, started searching about 5:30 a.m. near Potrero Road and San Timoteo Canyon Road, now known as Oak Valley Parkway, according to the sheriff's department.

"Due to the tenacity and dedication of the participants, volunteers recovered a crucial piece of evidence believed to be used during the commission of the crime," Sgt. Brian Reno and Sgt. Sean Bahash of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said in a joint statement.

Garcia-Vega and Benitez-Mariscal were held without bail Wednesday at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, according to inmate records. Ayon's status was not available.

Anyone with further information was urged to call Investigator Lester Harvey at (951) 955-2777, Investigator Jackie Lane at (951) 922-7109, or the sheriff's Dispatch Center 1-800-950-2444.