Suspect In Parking Lot Killing Tracked To Beaumont, Chased To Hemet

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A man suspected of gunning down a victim in a business parking lot early Sunday was arrested after being located in Beaumont and chased to Hemet, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Ernesto Lopez Jr., 46, of Moreno Valley was being held without bail at Riverside's Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree murder and evading a peace officer/reckless driving, according to jail records.

His arrest followed a 12:16 a.m. call Sunday about an assault with a deadly weapon in a business parking lot in the 1600 block of N. Perris Boulevard in Perris.

When deputies arrived at the location, they found a man wounded by gunshots. He was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 49-year-old Mark Carrasco of Riverside. His death was ruled a homicide.

Deputies quickly developed suspect information and relayed the details to surrounding Riverside Sheriff’s Stations and local law enforcement agencies, the sheriff's department said.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Aviation team broke the case open when it found the suspect vehicle in Beaumont at about 12:48 a.m. Sunday. But when deputies and Beaumont police officers tried to pull the driver over, the suspect—identified as Lopez—failed to comply, and a chase began.

Lopez was pursued into the city of Hemet where he was finally arrested at the intersection of Florida and Acacia avenues.

"No additional suspects are outstanding," the sheriff's department said.

A possible motive for the slaying was not disclosed.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Investigator S. Denham of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Milian of the Perris Sheriff’s Station at 951-210-1000.