Coroner IDs Senior Citizen Killed In Carjacking, Suspect Arrested

NORCO, CA — A senior citizen killed Monday during an apparent carjacking in Norco was identified overnight by the Riverside County Coroner's Bureau.

James Norman, 79, of Norco, was identified following notification of next of kin. He died at the hospital as a result of his injuries after he was carjacked near downtown Norco.

The fatal incident was reported shortly before 12:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Hidden Valley Parkway, less than a mile east of Interstate 15, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. A caller reported witnessing a male enter the vehicle's driver's seat and drive away, Sgt. Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.

The agency said witnesses observed a man forcibly taking the victim's silver SUV, jumping into the driver's seat and speeding away on the four-lane corridor with "the vehicle owner partially inside the rear seat."

"The victim was dragged and ejected from the vehicle," Brito-Gonzalez said.

During the investigation, officers from the Corona Police Department told deputies from the sheriff's Norco station that they located a man suffering from traumatic injuries consistent with being ejected from a vehicle. James Norman of Corona was located on Hidden Valley Parkway east of the initial incident and rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sheriff's homicide detectives found the victim's unoccupied SUV near Polk Street and Magnolia Avenue in the city of Riverside.

Investigators began working with the Riverside Police Department and eventually detained 29-year-old Ryan Hewitt of Corona near Magnolia and Tyler Street.

Hewitt was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of carjacking and murder.

Sheriff's officials said no additional suspects were believed to be involved.

Related:

Gas Station Carjacking Leaves Senior Citizen Dead In Norco: Report