Teen Accused Of Killing Lake Elsinore Man Arrested, Officials Say

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — After a nearly month-long investigation into the murder of a Lake Elsinore man, a teenager from Perris was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the suspected murder, police said.

The suspect, only identified as a 17-year-old boy from Perris, was booked into Juvenile Hall on Tuesday on suspicion of murder, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The teenager was arrested at a home on the 20500 block of Santa Rosa Mine Road and detained without incident. His identity will not be released, officials said.

The arrest comes weeks after Rene Diaz, 42, of Lake Elsinore, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the area of the 2500 block of Spectacular Bid Street on Dec. 23, 2024. Deputies responded just before midnight to a call about an assault with a deadly weapon.

Diaz was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he remained in critical condition until he died of his injuries on Dec. 29.

Anyone with any information about this investigation is urged to contact Investigator D. Brown or Master Investigator D. Robertson of the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.