Hemet Homicide Victims ID'd, Booking Photo of Suspect Released

The victims of an alleged double homicide in Hemet have been identified as a 5-year-old girl and a 36-year-old woman, and a booking photo of suspect Johnny Lopez was released Monday Nov. 11.

Lopez, 33, of Hemet was locked up Monday evening at Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, where he was held without bail. He was booked on suspicion of two counts of murder with malice, and one count each of multiple homicide and attempted murder, according to inmate records.

Mia Lopez, 5, and Joanna Barrientos, 36, both of Hemet, were found deceased with gunshot wounds Saturday at a residence in the 26000 block of Girard Street, sheriff's Sgt. Todd Torrenti of the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit said in a statement.

According to the Sheriff's Department, deputies from the Hemet Station first responded to "an unknown trouble call for service" in the 41000 block of Sunset Lane at 8:13 p.m. Nov. 8.

"The reporting party stated that a male was standing in the street with blood on him," Torrenti said. "Deputies arrived within minutes and located an adult male fitting the description, standing in the street. Deputies contacted the subject who was later identified as Johnny Lopez, a 33-year-old resident of Hemet.

"Lopez refused to cooperate and began to fight with deputies," Torrenti said. After a brief struggle, Lopez was taken into custody.

Deputies checked the residence that Lopez was standing in front of and found a woman suffering from life-threatening stab wounds, Torrenti said. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

At 9:16 p.m. Nov. 8, deputies received a suspicious circumstance call at a residence in the 26000 block of Girard Street, Torrenti said.

"The caller stated that two subjects were found deceased inside the residence," Torrenti said. "Deputies arrived and located an adult female and a female juvenile suffering from gunshot wounds. The three victims in both incidents are not related to each other. Both incidents appear to be related and there are no outstanding suspects."

An update on the woman who was stabbed was not available Monday. Lopez has a court date Thursday Nov. 14 at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, according to inmate records.

Anyone with more info was urged to call Investigator Stites of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Janecka of the Hemet Station at (951) 791-3400.